LAROUSSE
`
`Dictionary of
`SCIENCE
`and
`ECHNOLOGY
`
`General Editor
`Professor Peter M B Walker, CBE, FRSE
`
`LA
`
`000001
`
`AVX CORPORATION 1014
`
`

`
`LAROUSSE
`Larousse plc
`43-45 Annandale Street, Edinburgh, EH7 4AZ
`Larousse Kingfisher Chambers Inc.
`95 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016
`
`This edition first published by Larousse 1995
`Preceding edition published in the UK under the title Chambers Science and
`Technology Dictionary by W & R Chambers Ltd 1988, and by agreement in
`North America under the title Cambridge Dictionary of Science and Technology
`First edition published (as Chamber's Technical Dictionary) in the UK
`by W & R Chambers Ltd 1940, revised 1958 (as Chambers Dictionary of
`Science and Technology), 1971, 1974, and 1984 (as Chambers Science
`and Technology Dictionary)
`
`10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
`
`Copyright CD Larousse plc 1995
`Copyright © on material from preceding edition, W & R Chambers Ltd 1988
`
`Illustrations drawn by Peter Walker
`Copyright © Larousse plc 1995
`
`All rights reserved
`
`British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
`for this book is available from the British Library
`
`Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 94-73123
`
`ISBN 0-7523-0010-5 (hardback)
`ISBN 0-7523-0011-3 (paperback)
`
`The publisher would like to thank Jack Weigel, Coordinator
`of the Science Library at the University of Michigan/Ann Arbor,
`for his invaluable assistance in reviewing the material for this volume.
`
`SI
`SI
`Ph
`Gro
`Ch
`
`Printed in Great Britain by Clays Ltd, St Ives plc
`
`WOE 0.? .044
`
`(cid:9)ti,1-,.Pe&I eoli.74.444%i, (cid:9)
`
`re?:
`
`000002
`
`

`
`182 (cid:9)
`Cephalochordata
`Cephalochordata (Zoo!) A subphylum of the Chordata
`having a persistent notochord, metameric muscles and
`gonads, a pharynx having a large number of gill-slits
`which are enclosed in an atrial cavity, and lacking paired
`fins, jaws, brain, and skeletal structures of bone and
`cartilage; marine sand living forms. Lancelets.
`cephalometry (Med) The ultrasound measurement (for-
`merly radiological) of the foetal head dimensions in
`utero.
`Cephalopoda (Zoo!) A class of bilaterally symmetrical
`Mollusca in which the anterior part of the foot is
`modified into arms or tentacles, while the posterior part
`forms a funnel leading out from the mantle cavity, the
`mantle is undivided, and the shell is a single internal
`plate, or an external spiral structure, or absent. They
`range from the Cambrian to the present day. Squids,
`octopods and pearly nautilus. See ammonoids.
`cephaloridine (Med) Cephalosporin C with the acetoxy
`group replaced by a pyridinium ion. Antibiotic used for
`treatment of severe sepsis.
`cephalosporins (Med) Group of antibiotics derived from
`the fungus Cephalosporium, effective against a broad
`spectrum of organisms (wide-spectrum antibiotic). Com-
`mon examples are cefuroxime and cefotaxime.
`cephalothorax (Zool) In some Crustacea, a region of the
`body formed by the fusion of the head and thorax.
`Cepheid parallax (Astron) See period—luminosity law.
`Cepheid variable (Astron) A class of bright periodic
`variable star with a period of one to 70 days, showing
`exact correlation between the period and luminosity: the
`longer the period, the more luminous the star. Measure-
`ments of the apparent brightness and the period there-
`fore allow the distance to be estimated. The prototype is
`Delta Cephei.
`Cepheus (Astron) A northern constellation which in-
`cludes the star Delta Cephei, the prototype of regular
`variables used for calibrating the distance scale of the
`universe.
`ceramic (Eng)A non-organic and non-metallic substance,
`often an oxide or a carbide.
`ceramic capacitor (Electronics) Capacitor using a high-
`permittivity dielectric such as barium titanate to provide
`a high capacitance per unit volume.
`ceramic filter (Biol)A deep filter, usnally finger-like, with
`fine pores in which small particles or bacteria become
`trapped. Now largely superseded by membrane filters.
`Also Pasteur filter.
`ceramic filter (Telecomm) A band-pass filter constructed
`from a number of small ceramic piezoelectric resonators,
`commonly used in the intermediate-frequency strip of a
`radio receiver.
`ceramic fuel (NucEng) Nuclear fuel with high resistance
`for temperature, eg uranium dioxide, uranium carbide.
`ceramic insulator (ElecEng) An insulator made of
`ceramic material, eg porcelain; generally used for out-
`door installations.
`ceramic processing (Eng) The methods of making
`ceramic products before final sintering.
`
`forming method
`
`slip (cid:9)
`die rubber mould extrusion (cid:9)
`injection
`pressing pressing (cid:9)
`moulding casting moulding
`
`powder liquid powder plaster product
`ceramic processing Pressure being applied at P.
`
`ceramics (Chem) The art and science of non-organic non-
`metallic materials. The term covers the purification of
`
`Cerenkov radiation
`
`raw materials, the study and production of the chemical
`compounds concerned, their formation into compon-
`ents, the study of structure, constitution and properties.
`See alumina, carbides.
`ceramics processing (Chem) The formation of cerami
`components from their (powdered) raw materials.
`ceramic transducer (Eng) Transducer based on the
`electrical properties of ceramics such as piezoelectricity.
`cerargyrite (MM) Silver chloride. Also a. group name for
`silver halides. Also horn silver.
`cerat-, cerato- (Genrl) See kerat-, kerato-.
`cereal (Zoo!) Pertaining to the tail.
`cercaria (Zool) The final larval stage of Trematoda which
`develops directly into the adult; usually characterized by'
`the possession of a round or oval body, bearing eyespots,
`a sucker and a propelling tail.
`cercus (Zool) In some Arthropoda, a sensory appendage
`with several joints at the end of the abdomen.
`cere (Zool) In birds, the soft skin covering the base of the
`upper beak. Adj cereous. Also ceroma.
`cereal (FoodSci) The fruit of cultivated grasses (Gramin-
`eae). The main cereals are wheat, barley, oats, rye,
`maize, rice, sorghum and millets. They are high in
`soluble carbohydrates, starch and protein, and are the
`staple diet of well over half the world's population and a
`major source of animal feed.
`cerebral fossa (Zool) In mammals, a concavity in the
`cranium corresponding to the cerebrum.
`cerebellum (Zool) A dorsal thickening of the hind-brain
`in vertebrates. Adj cerebellar. Also epencephalon.
`cerebr-, cerebro- (Genr1) Prefixes from Lt cerebrum,
`brain.
`cerebral (Zool) Pertaining to the brain or the cerebrum.
`cerebral abscess (Med) An abscess within the brain.
`cerebral blood flow (Med) The blood flow to the brain,
`cerebral flexure (Zool) The bend which develops
`between the axis of the forebrain and that of the
`hindbrain in adult Craniata.
`cerebral haemorrhage (Med) Bleeding within the
`substance of the brain. One of the main causes of a
`stroke or cerebro-vascular accident.
`cerebral hemispheres (Zool) See cerebrum.
`cerebral palsy (Med) Muscular paralysis or other
`dysfunction resulting from perinatal damage to the
`motor area of brain.
`cerebral thrombosis (Med) Thrombosis or clotting
`within one of the vessels supplying the brain leading to
`a stroke or cerebro-vascular accident.
`cerebral tumour (Med) A tumour within the cranial
`cavity.
`cerebro- (GenrI) See cerebr-.
`cerebroside (Biol) The simplest glycolipid, consisting Of
`N-acyl sphingosine with either a glucose or a galactose
`residue.
`cerebrospinal (Zool) Pertaining to the brain and spinal
`cord.
`cerebrospinal fluid (Med) The clear colourless fluid
`which bathes the surfaces of the brain and spinal cord-
`cerebro-vascular accident (Med) A sudden interruP-
`tion to the blood supply to the brain, as in cerebral
`haemorrhage or thrombosis. Also stroke.
`cerebrum (Zool) A pair of hollow vesicles or hemisphere!,
`forming the anterior and largest part of the brain 01
`vertebrates.
`Cerenkov counter (NucEng) Radiation counter whi,ch
`operates through the detection of Cerenkov radiation. —
`Cerenkov detector (Phys) Device which detects .and
`measures the Cerenkov radiation produced as a result °
`the incidence of high-energy charged particles; frorn tbld,
`the speed and charge of the particles may be calculat°
`Cerenkov radiation (Phys) Radiation emitted wbeft• da
`charged particle travels through a medium at a spee
`greater than the speed of light in the medium. This occur s
`when the refractive index of the medium is high, ie rn uc
`greater than unity, as for water.
`
`• cereous
`éereous (Zool) 5.
`Ceres (Astron)
`•'diSbovered (18(
`orbital period a
`Ceriferous (Bot,
`cerium (Chem)
`..rare earth meta:
`at 20°C 6.7, to.:
`When alloyed NI
`alloyed with irc
`the sparking co
`ignition devices
`aluminium base
``. the ultraviolet
`flaahlight powd
`• noble gases in v
`from which it is
`There are a
`products, 144Ce
`electron emitter
`cermet (Aero, Ei
`-- Composite mat
`temperature chi
`, ,icalproperties o
`reactor fuels.
`CERN (Phys) Byr
`Recherche Mid
`, Recherche Nucl
`theoretical and
`• "supported by
`Geneva'. Its fa
`pmtori and ant
`.positron collide.
`ceroma (Zool)
`Certificate of
`a. issued, or requ
`confinniiig that
`respect to fiy wi
`categories. Abb
`:;
`Certificate of (
`parts of an airc
`inspected etc to I
`• Abbrev C of C.
`Certificate of RI
`an aircraft h
`in accordance w
`11'.1..
`cerurninous gig
`occurring in the
`and producing a
`cerussite (Min)
`orthorhombic 53
`cervical gang! ia
`lia, anterior ar
`Craniata.
`Cervica arnear (
`cells from the im
`the pre-cancerm
`Pervicecomy 0„,
`CervicitiS (Med):
`ceiv
`mum (Zool)
`mental region b
`gner vertebrat
`: between the hem
`to the neck or te
`ceryine (Bot) Dam
`ut
`" (cid:9)
`•
`en (Zoc
`b (cid:9)
`,„ a., Tie and parth
`seCtio;
`(Chem)
`!!ePitese (Bot)T_
`7,1300l (Build)
`sv111.1e4d which,
`Point Where roo
`
`000003
`
`(cid:9)
`

`
`materials matChin
`. (cid:9)
`9
`order to detect weak echoeS'er
`iresent. The filter has att impnik
`nds precisely to the speethimint,
`0, which may be frequency
`: coding, pulse compression, ••• • •
`) One with impedance equal%
`%lance of a source,• (cid:9)
`f.or
`is no reflection of poWer,.and
`the maximum possible.HAlso
`e termination. .
`tched boards.
`of the insertion of maiching
`ency transmission lines, With the
`er reflections at a mismatch. A
`consist of specifically.:
`4oin
`ripline or coaxial cable liaVing a•
`'
`1 the main system and cOnnected
`ise impedance transfOrinatien ;
`rig stub may be connected ls
`• .
`ission path. (cid:9)
`Wjusting a load impedance to
`edance with a transformer :or.
`urn power is received, ie. So that .
`; due to mismatch. The prinCiple
`ical systems, eg non-reflecting
`a horn in loudspeakers tOinatch
`:o that of air, matching'lhad on
`line. Reactance in the 'load
`mlized or tuned-out bY.an equal
`gn.
`) Short or open circuited stub
`n line to neutralize •:teactive
`so improve matching. • •
`(Telecomm) One expreSsly in-
`-mtion circuit to avoid reflection
`.d source impedances differ; .•.•
`e matched boards.
`s suitable for manufacttiring into •
`
`oven fabric with a quilted effect
`s and two wefts, and used for
`
`The production of Maas llOm
`the mass—energy equation;
`by pair production (electron
`rays.
`%enrl) A collection of .materials
`and chemical properties Of avail-
`:ept in computerized firm.: The
`acturers, for example, supply such
`1 materials on request ,(eg PPS,
`erials selection systemslaVe their
`
`rig) The process, which ineludes
`of transporting and positioning
`nished and finished products in
`;trial operations, by conveyors,
`• .•
`Eeeds etc.
`,n (Eng) Various analytical Me0-
`roblem of identifying unlmOlvn
`Kis are of general applicability,eg
`ialysis of X-rays (EDAX) coin-
`ectron microscopy, optical micro-
`mlysis, while others arernaterial
`:ation chromatography :far poly.-
`then applied to a specifiernaterial
`riolet spectroscopy for POlyinera).
`itification will include deternnPing
`oounds present, their cOinPaaitio n
`such microstructural fentUre.s as
`tetals and ceramics) or sphertilite
`s). See trace element inalysis.::
`ng) Method of materialS analYsi s
`le is identified by comparison 0
`alable to analyst. More. ConlPre;
`tification methods will be needed.a
`le.
`
`materials science (cid:9)
`6
`81 (cid:9)
`aterials science (Genrl) The study of chemical and
`nhysical properties of elements, compounds, mixtures
`rn
`• (blends and alloys) and minerals for understanding of
`• atonik and/ or molecular causes.
`(Eng) Activity involving matcng
`hi
`material s
`saevlaeilcatblen (cid:9)io to product specification, particularly
`
`
` of mechanical properties (eg elastic modulus
`
`rainatteeri rmaiss (cid:9)
`and ctrength), thermal properties (eg melting and glass
`• transitions, thermal conductivity), chemical properties
`eg corrosion resistance and environmental stress crack-
`ing) and electrical properties (eg electrical conductivity
`and tracking resistance). It also includes processing
`• properties and ease of manufacture, as well as costing.
`/vlethods include merit index analysis and those based on
`• value judgements. Some methods are computerized and
`cover meta.ls, ceramics and polymers (eg PERITUS),
`others like PLASCAMS, only apply to polymers.
`problems of application include neglect of difficult-to-
`quantify properties like appeal and marketability, the
`need to update data regularly, and the mismatch between
`standard material properties and actual properties of
`,• real products.
`materials substitution (Eng) Replacement of one
`material in a product by another, such as wood by
`ass-reinforced plastic, or the latter by thermoplastic in
`small boats. Similarly, high-tensile steels for mild steel
`sheet in car bodies. See car body materials. Such
`replacement often demands substantial design changes
`to allow for different material properties. Motives
`• include cost savings, rise in productivity, better proper-
`ties or safety, eg polyethylene terephthalate for glass in
`:beverage bottles.
`• materials technology (Eng) Application of materials
`science to the development and practical use of conven-
`tional or new materials, esp for manufactured products
`• (eg metal-matrix composites, high-temperature poly-
`mers, mixed oxide superconductors). See bigh-perfor-
`mance fibres.
`materials testing reactor (NucEng) See high-flux
`reactor.
`maternal effect (Biol) A non-heritable influence of a
`mother on characters in her offspring, eg through her
`milk supply.
`maternal immunity (Immun) Passive immunity acquired
`by the newborn animal from its mother. In humans and
`other primates this is mainly by active transport of IgG
`antibodies across the placenta. In species which have
`thicker placentas, such as ungulates, antibody is not
`transferred in utero but is acquired from the colostrum,
`and is absorbed intact from the gut during the first few
`days of life. The young of birds acquire maternal
`immunity from antibody in the egg yolk.
`mathematical induction (Maths) An argument for
`verifying identities when the variable is limited to
`positive integral values. The two steps of the argument
`are (1) by assuming the correctness of the identity when
`' the variable equals n, to deduce the corresponding
`• identity for when the variable equals n +1, (2) to verify
`that the identity is correct when the variable has a low
`value such as 1 or 2. Step (1) shows that if the identity is
`ever correct it is correct for all subsequent values of the
`variable, and step (2) shows that the identity is correct for
`some low value of the variable.
`• mathematical logic (Maths) The application of math-
`ematical techniques to logic in an attempt both to deduce
`new propositions by formal manipulations and to detect
`anY underlying inconsistencies. Its study, by many
`• eminem mathematicians and philosophers, as a means
`- of clarifying the basic concepts of mathematics, has
`revealed a number of paradoxes, several of which have
`yalegtebtora.be resolved. Also symbolic logic. Cf Boolean
`
`mathematical modelling (Genrl) The representation by
`• mathematical expressions of a physical event as an aid to
`- understanding the process.
`mathematics (Genrl) The study of the logical conse-
`' quences of sets of axioms. Pure mathematics, roughly
`'Peaking, comprises those branches studied for their own
`
`matte
`sake or their relation to other branches. The most
`important of these are algebra, analysis and topology.
`The term applied mathematics is usually restricted to
`applications in physics. Applications in other fields, eg
`economics, mainly statistical, are sometimes referred to
`as applicable mathematics.
`maths co-processor (Comp) An additional processor
`that performs floating point arithmetic and improves the
`speed of a system undertaking such arithmetic. Now
`often integral with the central processing unit.
`mating (Build) Said of surfaces or pieces which come into
`contact or interlock.
`mating type (Bot) A group of individuals, within a
`species, which cannot breed among themselves but which
`are able to breed with individuals of other such groups.
`See incompatibility, minus strain, plus strain.
`matric potential (Bot) That component of the water
`potential due to the interaction of the water with colloids
`and to capillary forces (surface tension). Often important
`component in soils and cell walls. Symbol tfr.
`matrix (Bot) More or less continuous matter in which
`something is embedded, eg the non-cellulosic substances
`of the cell wall in which the cellulose microfibrils lie in
`vascular plant cell walls. Adj matric.
`matrix (Build) The lime or cement constituting the
`cementing material that binds together the aggregate in
`a mortar or concrete.
`matrix (Eng) The component of a composite material in
`which the fibres or filler materials are embedded, and
`which variously transfers stresses to them, prevents fibres
`from buckling and protects their surfaces.
`matrix (ImageTech) A network of electronic circuits to
`combine several signal sources in a specified mathem-
`atical arrangement, for example, to transform colour co-
`ordinates in a colour TV system.
`matrix (Maths) A system of elements eg real or complex
`numbers arranged in a square or rectangular formation,
`eg
`
`(a b c)
`d e f
`g h i
`
`•
`matrix (PowderTech) The phase or phases which form the
`continuous skeleton of a powder body, thus forming the
`cells in which constituents imparting particular qualities
`may be held.
`matrix (Print) The mould from which type is cast,
`produced from an impression with a punch: also the
`mould made from a relief surface in stereotyping and
`electrotyping. Usually contracted to mat.
`matrix (Zool) The intercellular ground-substance of
`connective tissues.
`matrixing (ImageTech) In colour TV, performing a
`colour co-ordinate transformation by computation with
`electrical or optical methods.
`matroclinous (Biol) Exhibiting the characteristics of the
`female parent more prominently than those of the male
`parent. Cf patroclinous.
`matromorphic (Biol) Resembling the mother.
`matt, matte (Genrl) Smooth but dull; tending to diffuse
`light; said, eg, of a surface painted or varnished so as to
`be dull or flat.
`matte (ImageTech) An opaque mask determining the
`image area exposed in a motion picture camera or
`printer. It may be a physical object in front of the camera
`lens or a strip of film with silhouette images of high
`density, used in special-effects work for image combina-
`tion.
`matte (MinExt) Fusion product consisting of mixed
`sulphides produced in the smelting of sulphide ores. In
`the smelting of copper, for example, a slag containing the•
`gangue oxides and a matte consisting of copper and iron
`sulphides are produced. The copper is subsequently I
`obtained by blowing air through the matte, to oxidize the '
`iron and sulphur.
`
`000004