McGraw-Hill
`DICTIONARY OF
`SCIENTIFIC AND |
`TECHNICAL
`TERMS
`
`
`
`
`Fourth Edition
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Sybil P. Parker
`
`- EDItor IN CHIEF
`
`McGRAW-HILL BOOK COMPANY
`
`New York
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`On the cover: Pattern produced from white light by a computer-generated
`diffraction plate containing 529 square apertures arranged in a 23 x 23 array.
`(R. B. Hoover, Marshall Space Flight Center)
`Onthetitle pages: Aerial photograph of the Sinai Peninsula made by Gemini
`spacecraft. (NASA)
`”
`:
`:
`
`Included in this Dietionaxy are definitions which have been‘published previously in the following
`works: P. B, Jordain, Condensed Computer Encyclopedia, ‘Copyright ©1969 by McGraw-Hill, Inc.
`All rights reserved. J. Markus, Electronics and Nucleonies Dietionary, 4th ed., Copyright © 1960,
`1966, 1978 by McGraw-Hill, Inc. All rights reserved, J. Quick, Artists’ andHlustrators’ Eneyelopedia,
`Copyright © 1969 by McGraw-Hill, Inc. All rights reserved. Blakiston’s Gould Medical Dictionary,
`3d ed., Copyright © 1956, 1972 by McGraw-Hill, Ine. All rightsreserved. T, Baumeister and
`L. S. Marks, eds., Standard Handbookfor Mechanical Engineers, Tih ed., Copyright © 1958, 1967
`’ by McGraw-Hill, Inc. All rights reserved.
`se
`-
`oo
`In addition, material has been drawn from the following references: R. E. Huschke, Glossary of
`Meteorology, American Meteorological Society, 1959; U.S. Air Force Glossary ofStandardized Terms,
`AF Manual 11-1, vol. 1, 1972; Communications-Electronics Terminology, AF Manual 11-1, vel. 3,
`1970; W. H. Allen, ed., Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use, lat ed., National Aero-
`nautics and Space Administration, 1965; ]. M. Gilliland, Solar-Terrestrial Physics: A Glossary of
`Terms and Abbreviations, Royal Aircraft Establishment Technical Report 67158, 1967; Glossary of
`Air Traffic Control Terms, Federal Aviation Agency; A Glossary ofRange Terminology, White Sands
`Missile Range, New Mexico, NationalBureau of Standards, AD 467-424; A DOD Glossary ofMiapping,
`Charting and Geodetic Terms, Ist ed., Department of Defense, 1967; P: W. Thrush, comp. and ed.,
`A Dictionary of Mining, Mineral, and Related Terms, Bureau of Mines, 1968; Nuclear Terms: A
`Glossary, 2d ed., Atomic Energy Commission; F. Casey, ed., Compilation of Terms in Information
`Sciences Technology, Federal Council for Science and Technology, 1970; Glossary of Stinfo Termi-
`nology, Office of Aerospace Research, U.S. Air Force, 1963; Naval Dictionary ofElectronic, Tech-
`nical, and Imperative Terms, Bureau of Naval Persormel, 1962; ADP Glossary, Department of the
`Navy, NAYSO P-3097,
`
`McGRAW-HILL DICTIONARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL TERMS,
`Fourth Edition
`.
`.
`Copyright © 1989, 1984, 1978, 1976, 1974 by McGraw-Hill, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in
`the United States of America. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976,
`no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored
`in a data base orretrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
`
`34567890
`
`pOW/DOW
`
`9543210
`
`ISBN O-07-045270-5
`
`Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
`
`McGraw-Hill dictionary of scientific and technical terms.
`
`1. Seience-—Dictionaries.
`I. Parker, Sybil P.
`Q123.M34
`1989
`ISBN 0-07-045270-9
`
`2. Technology—Dictionaries.
`
`503'/21
`
`88-13490
`
`For more information about other McGraw-Hill materials, call 1-800-2-MCGRAWin the
`United States. In other countries, call your nearest MeGraw-Hill office.
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`

`aphrodisiac
`
`
`
`Apodida
`
`109
`
`APHRODITIDAE
`
`The sea mouse, Aphrodita, of
`the Aphroditidae.
`
` aplanospores
`
`‘sporanglum FORM
`
`Several aplanospores and the
`sporangium that contains them.
`
`
`
`
`
`forrics] A lens corrected for spherical ab-
`aplanatic lens
`[pHys!o] Any chemical agentor odorthat stim-
`aphrodisiac
`beration.
`{ laploinadik ‘lenz }
`ulates sexual desires.
`{ ,af-ra'dé-7é,ak }
`aplanatic points
`[optics]
`Two points on the axis of an
`Aphroditidae
`[inv Zoo] A family of scale-bearing poly-
`optical system which are located so thatall the rays emanating
`chaste worms belonging to the Errantia.
`{ ,aftre‘did-a,dé }
`from one converge to, or appear to diverge from,
`the other.
`Aphrosalpingoidea [PALEON] A group of middle Paleozoic
`{ 'aploinad-ik ‘pdins }
`invertebrates classified with the calcareous sponges.
`rat
`A gamete that
`lacks motility.
`aplanogamete=[Bi0L]
`16,sal,pin'gdid-é'o }
`{ a'plan-a-go,mét }
`aphrosiderite Sze ripiddite.
`{ satro'sid-o,rit }
`A nonmotile, asexual spore, usually
`aplanospore
`{mycoi]
`aphtha
`{[mep] White, painful oral ulcer of unknown cause.
`{ a'plan-
`a sporangiospore, comunon in the Phycomycetes,
`{ ,aftha }
`2,spor}
`aphthitalite
`[MINERAL]
`(K,Na},Na(SO.). A white mineral
`Defective developmentresulting in the virtual
`[MED]
`aplasia
`crystallizing in the rhombohedral system and occurring mas-
`absence of a tissue or organ; only a remnant appears.
`{4
`sively or in crystals.
`{ ,af'thidval it }
`‘olazh-a }
`-
`aphylactic map projection
`[Map] A map projection which
`aplastic anemia
`[MED] A blood disorder in which lympko-
`is neither conformal nor equal-area.
`{ ,af'a‘lakdik 'map
`cytes predominate while there is a deficiency of erythrocytes,
`pra‘jek-shan +
`hemogiobin, and granulocytes.
`{ a'plasttik 9'némryo }
`Aphylidae
`[vv zoo] An Australian family of hernipteran
`aplite
`[peTR}
`Fine-grained granitic dike rock made up of
`insects composed of two species; not placed in any higher
`light-colored mineral constituents, mostly quartz and feldspar;
`toxonomic group.
`{ a'fil‘a,dé }
`used to manvfacture glass and enamel.
`{ ‘a,plit }
`aphyllous
`[oT] Lackingfoliage leaves. _{ a'files }
`aplysiatoxin
`[BiccHEM] A bislactone toxin produced by the
`aphyric
`{pera}
`Ofthe texture of fine-grained igneous rocks,
`blue-green alga Lyngbye majuscula.
`{ alplizh-aitak-son }
`showing two generations of the same mineral but without phen-
`apnea
`[MED] A transient cessation of respiration.
`{ ‘ap:
`ocrysts.
`{ a'firik }
`:
`néa }
`.
`aphytic zone
`[ECOL] The part ofa lake floor that lacks plants
`Apneumonomorphae
`[inv zoo] A suborder of arachnid
`because it is too deep-for adequate hight penetration.
`{ a'fid-
`arthropods in the order Araneida characterized by the lack of
`ik ,zGn }
`book Jungs.
`{ 4,nirma,n6'mér, fé }
`‘
`API See air-position indicator, armor-piercing incendiary.
`apneusis
`[rHysio]
`In certain lower vertebrates, sustained
`apiary
`[AGR] A place where bees are kept, especially for
`tonic contraction of the respiratory musclesto allow prolonged
`breeding and honey making.
`{ 'apé,eré }
`inspiration.
`{ ap'nii-sas }
`oe
`,
`apical
`[sor] Relating to the apex ortip.
`{ ‘apritkal}
`apo-
`[CHEM] A prefix that denotes formation from or rela-
`apicat angle
`[mEcH] The angle between the tangents te the
`tionship to another chemical compound,
`{ 'ap-3 or ‘apra }
`curve outlining the contour of a projectile at its tip.
`{ 'aprkel
`apoapsis
`[aston] The poiat in an orbit farthest from the
`‘agrgal }
`center of attraction.
`{ japdapsas }
`{ ‘aprirkal bad }
`apical bud See terminal bud,
`apoatropine
`forG CHEM] C);Hj,NO, An alkaloid melting
`apical dominance [sot]
`inhibition of lateral bud growth by
`at 61°C with decomposition of the compound; highly toxic;
`the apical bud of a shoot, believed to be a response to auxins
`obtained by dehydrating atropine.
`{ ,apd'a‘tra,pén }
`produced by the apical bud.
`{ ‘apri-kal'dimra-nens }
`apob [METEOROL] An observation of pressure, temperature,
`apicalia
`[INV zoo] Paired sensory cilia on the head of gna-
`and relative humidity taken aloft by means of an acrometeoro-
`thostomulids.
`{ !ap-o{kal-ys }
`graph; a type ofaircraft sounding.
`{ ‘A,pab }
`apical meristem [goT]
`<A region of embryonic tissue occur-
`apocarpous
`[BoT] Having carpels separate from each other.
`ring atthe tips of roots and stems. Also known as promeristem.
`{ lapatkar-pas }
`.
`{ ‘aprirkal 'mer-a,stem }
`:
`{ ‘ap-a,semtar }
`apocenter See apofocus.
`apical plate
`[inv zoo] A group ofcells at the anterior end
`apochromat See apochromatic lens.
`{ ,apra'kré-mat}
`of certain trochophore larvae; believed to have nervous and
`apochromatic tens
`f[oprics} A tens with corrections for
`sensory functions.
`{ ‘aptirkal‘plat }
`chromatic and spherical aberration.
`{ 'aprorkro!mad-ik ‘lenz }
`apiculate
`[pct]
`Ending abruptly in a short, sharp point.
`apochromatic system [oprics] An optical system whichis
`{ a'pik:yelat }
`free from both spherical and chromatic aberration for two or
`Large-scale commercial beekeeping.
`{ ‘a
`apiculture [AcR]
`more colors.
`{ ‘apakrdtmad-ik 'sistam }
`pa,kal-char}
`apocodeine
`[PHARM] C,gH,,NO, White crystals with a
`Apidae
`[inv zoo] A family of hymenopteran insects in the
`melting point of 124°C, decomposes on meiting; soluble in
`superfamily Apoidea including the honeybees, bumblebees,
`alcohol and ether; used in medicine.
`{ lapra,ko,dén }
`and carpenter bees.
`{ ‘apa,dé }
`apocrine gland
`[pHysio] A multicefular gland, such as a
`Apioceridae
`[INV zoo] A family of arthorrhaphous dipteran
`mammary gland or an axillary sweat gland, that extrudes part
`insects in the series Brachycera,
`{ ,ap-e-O'serva,dé }
`of the cytoplasm with the secretory product.
`{ ‘apro-kran
`apioid=[rHys] A pear-shaped form taken bya rapidly re-
`sporangio-"
`gland }
`volving massofliquid duete the force of gravity.
`{ 'apé,oid }
`phore
`apocronus
`[ASTRON] The farthest point of a satellite in its
`apialogy [inv zoo] The scientific study of bees, particularly
`ontaboutSaturn. Alsoknown asaposaturnium.
`{ jap‘o;kro-
`honeybees.
`{ a-pé'alarjé }
`nas
`Apis
`[inv zoo] A genus ofbees, the type genus ofthe Apidae.
`Apocynaceae
`[pot] A family of tropical and subtropical
`{ 'a-pes }
`flowering trees, shrubs, and vines in the order Gentianales,
`The American Petroleum institute
`{cuem ENG]
`APi scale
`characterized by a well-developed latex system, granular pol-
`hydrometer scale for the measurement of the specific gravity
`len, a poorly developed corona, and the carpels often united
`of liquids; used primarily in the American petroleum industry.
`by the style and stigma; well-known members are oleander and
`{ Bipeyd skal }
`periwinkle.
`{ a,pas-s'nasé,é }
`[wv z00] A family of spioniform annelid
`Apistobranchidae
`Apoda
`[VERTzOO] The caecilians, asmail order of wormlike,
`worms belonging to the Sedentaria.
`{ a'pistatbragk-a,dé }
`legless animals in the class Amphibia.
`{ ‘pada }
`Apodacea
`[my zoo] A subclass of echinodermsin the class
`apitong
`[MATER] A wood from the Philippine tree Diptero-
`Holothuroidea characterized by simpie or pinnate tentacles and
`carpus grandiflorus; sold as mahogany although it is not a tre
`reduced or absent tube feet:
`{ arpa'das:é-a }
`mahogany.
`{ a'pé,tog }
`apjohnite
`[MINERAL] MnAl,($O.)4°22H.O A white, rose-
`apodeme
`[inv zoo] An internal ridge or process on an
`arthropod exoskeleton to which organs and muscles attach.
`green, or yellow mineral containing water and occurring in
`crusts, fibrous masses, or efflorescences.
`{ ‘ap,ja,nit }
`{ 'apra,dém }
`An equivalent namefor the Anguilli-
`APL [comput sci] An interactive computer language whose
`Apodes
`[VERT 200]
`formes.
`{ 'ap-a,déz }
`operators accept and produce arrays with homogeneous ele-
`Apodi
`[veRTzco} The switts, a suborderof birds.in the order
`ments of type number or character.
`Apodiformes.
`{ ‘ap-a,di }
`Aplacophora
`[inv zoo] A subclass of vermiform mollusks
`Typical appearance of an apodous
`Apodida
`[inv zoo] An order of worm-shaped holothurian
`holothurian.
`in the class Amphineura characterized by ao shell and calear-
`echinodermsin the subclass Apodacea.
`{ o’pdd-ordo }
`eous integumentary spicules.{|&,pla'kaforra }
`1
`|
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`
`fgHrRsrTEstMEASUTETR
`
`
`rerereteseoncit
`
`APODIDA
`
`cloaca
`
` tentacle
`
`
`
`