tone control a control device, as on a high-fidelity amplifier, for varying the intensity of high and low frequencies

tone language a language, as Chinese or some Bantu or Southeast Asian languages, in which pitch variation is used to distinguish words that would otherwise sound alike Also tonal language

tone poem SYMPHONIC POEM

tone row (or series) the group of pitches, arranged in an arbitrary and unique order, which serves as the basis of a composition in twelve-tone or serial music

tonearm (-ärm') •n. 1 PICKUP (n. 7b) 2 the pivoted arm on a phonograph turntable, holding the CARTRIDGE (n. 4)

tone-deaf (toun´def') •adj. not able to distinguish accurately differences in musical pitch tone´-deaf'ness •n.

toner (toun´эr) •n. 1 the ink powder mixture used to form images in xerography 2 a facial cleanser, usually containing alcohol, and astringent to varying degrees

tonetic (tou net´ik) •adj. of or having to do with a tone language to·net´i·cal·ly •adv. [TON(E) + (PHON)ETIC]

toney (toun´i:) •adj. alt. sp. of TONY

tong¹ (töŋ, täŋ) •vt. to seize, collect, handle, or hold with tongs •vi. to use tongs tong´er •n.

tong² (töŋ, täŋ) •n. 1 a Chinese association or political party 2 in the U.S., a Chinese secret fraternal society [Mandarin t'ang, hall, meeting place, society]

Tonga (täŋ´gэ) kingdom occupying a group of islands (Tonga Islands) in the SW Pacific, east of Fiji: a member of the Commonwealth: 289 sq. mi. (748 sq. km); pop. 98,700; cap. Nukualofa tonga (täŋ´gэ) •n. a two-wheeled carriage of India [Hindi tāngā]

Tongan (täŋ´gэn) •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Tonga 2 the Polynesian language of the Tongans [< a Polynesian language; ult. < Proto-Polynesian *tonga, south, south wind]

tongs (töŋz, täŋz) •n.pl. [sometimes with sing. v.] a device for seizing or lifting objects, having two long arms pivoted or hinged together: also called pair of tongs [ME tongys, pl. of tonge < OE tange, akin to Ger zange < IE base *den-, to bite: basic sense those that bite together]

tongue (tûŋ) •n. 1 the movable muscular structure attached to the floor of the mouth in most vertebrates: it is an important organ in the ingestion of food, the perception of taste, and, in humans, the articulation of speech sounds 2 an analogous part in invertebrate animals; specif., a) a radula b) the proboscis in certain insects, as bees 3 an animal's tongue used as food 4 a) the human tongue as the organ of speech b) ideas expressed by speaking; talk; speech c) the act or power of speaking d) a manner or style of speaking, with reference to tone, diction, etc. {a glib tongue} 5 a) a language or dialect b) in the Bible, a nation or people speaking a distinct language: Rev. 7:9 6 [pl.] see GLOSSOLALIA 7 the cry of a hunting dog, etc. in sight of game: chiefly in give tongue, to start barking 8 something resembling a tongue in shape, position, movement, or use; specif., a) the flap under the laces or strap of a shoe b) the clapper of a bell c) the pin of a buckle, etc. d) the pole of a wagon, etc. e) the projecting tenon of a tongue-and-groove joint f) in machines, a projecting flange, rib, etc. g) the vibrating end of the reed in a wind instrument h) a narrow strip of land extending into a sea, river, etc. i) a narrow inlet of water a) a long, narrow flame a) the pointer of a scale, etc. •vt. tongued, tongu´ing 1 [Archaic] a) to reproach or scold b) to speak or say 2 to touch, lick, etc. with the tongue 3 a) to cut a TONGUE (sense 8a) on or in b) to join by means of a tongue-and-groove joint 4 Music to play by tonguing: see TONGUING •vi. 1 [Rare] to talk or talk much 2 to project like a tongue 3 Music to use tonguing: see TONGUING find one's tongue to recover the ability to talk, as after shock or embarrassment hold one's tongue to refrain from speaking on everyone's tongue prevailing as common gossip on the tip of someone's (or the) tongue 1 almost said by someone 2 about to be said, esp. because almost but not quite recalled speak in tongues to engage in glossolalia [ME tunge < OE, akin to Ger zunge < IE base *dnGhū-, tongue > L lingua (OL dingua)]

tongue twister a phrase or sentence hard to speak fast, usually because of alliteration or a sequence of nearly similar sounds (Ex: six sick sheiks)

tongue-and-groove joint (tûŋ´ ªn gru:v´) a kind of joint in which a tongue or tenon on one board fits exactly into a groove in another

-tongued (tûŋd) combining form having a (specified kind of) tongue {loose-tongued}

tongue-lash (tûŋ´læsh') •vt. [Colloq.] to scold or reprove harshly; reprimand tongue´-lash'ing •n.

tongueless (tûŋ´lis) •adj. 1 having no tongue 2 speechless

tongue-tie (tûŋ´tai') •n. limited motion of the tongue, usually caused by a short frenum and resulting in indistinct articulation •vt. -tied', -ty'ing to make tongue-tied

tongue-tied (-taid') •adj. 1 having a condition of tongue-tie 2 speechless from amazement, embarrassment, etc.

tonguing (tûŋ´iŋ) •n. the use of the tongue in playing a musical wind instrument, esp. for more accurate intonation of rapid notes

tonic (tän´ik) •adj. 1 of, producing, or tending to produce good muscular tone, or tension 2 mentally or morally invigorating; stimulating 3 having to do with tones; specif., a) Music designating or based on the first tone (keynote) of a diatonic scale {a tonic chord} b) Painting having to do with the tone or tones of a picture c) [Now Rare] Phonet. designating or of sounds characterized by resonance in the head cavities; also, accented 4 Med., Physiol. of or characterized by tone, or tonus •n. 1 anything that invigorates or stimulates; specif., a) a drug, medicine, or other agent for restoring or increasing body tone b) a hair or scalp dressing 2 a) a carbonated beverage flavored with a little quinine and served in a mixed drink with gin, vodka, etc.; quinine water b) [Chiefly Northeast] SODA POP 3 Music the first, or basic, tone of a diatonic scale; keynote 4 [Now Rare] Phonet. a tonic sound or syllable ton´i·cal·ly •adv. [Gr tonikos < tonos: see TONE]

tonic accent Phonet. emphasis given to a syllable by change, esp. a rise, in pitch, rather than an increase in stress

tonic sol-fa a system of musical notation based on the relationship between the tones of a key, using the syllables of solmization (do, re, mi, etc.) instead of the usual staff symbols: used in teaching singing

tonicity (tou nis´э ti:) •n. the quality or condition of having good or normal muscular tone

tonight (tэ nait´, tu-, tu:-) •adv. 1 on or during the present or coming night 2 [Obs.] last night •n. 1 the present night 2 the night coming after the present day Also, esp. formerly, to-night [ME to niht < OE: see TO & NIGHT]

tonka bean (täŋ´kэ) 1 the fragrant, almond-shaped seed of any of several South American leguminous trees (genus Dipteryx) used in perfumes, drugs, etc. 2 the tree [prob. < Tupi name in Guiana]

Tonkin (tän´kin) 1 historical region and former French protectorate in NE Indochina: the N part of Vietnam 2 Gulf of arm of the South China Sea between Hainan Island & the coasts of S China & N Vietnam Ton'kin·ese´ (-i:z´, -i:s´), pl. -ese´, •adj., n.

Tonle Sap (tän´lei säp´, sæp´) 1 lake in central Cambodia: area varies from 1,000-9,500 sq. mi. (2,500-24,000 sq. km) according to season 2 river flowing from this lake into the Mekong River: c. 70 mi. (113 km)

tonnage (tûn´ij) •n. 1 a duty or tax on ships, based on tons carried 2 a charge per ton on cargo or freight on a canal, at a port, etc. 3 the total amount of shipping of a country or port, calculated in tons 4 the carrying capacity of a ship, calculated in tons 5 weight in tons [ME < MFr: see TUN & -AGE]

tonne (tûn) •n. a metric ton; 1,000 kg

tonneau (tû nou´; tän´ou') pl. -neaus´ or -neaux´ (-nouz´) •n. 1 an enclosed rear compartment for passengers in an early type of automobile 2 the whole body of such an automobile Æ 3 a protective cover for the passenger compartment of a small, open sports car [Fr, lit., a cask < tonne: see TUN]

tonometer (tou näm´эt эr) •n. 1 an instrument for determining the pitch of a tone; specif., a tuning fork or, esp., a set of tuning forks 2 an instrument for measuring vapor pressure 3 Med., Physiol. any of various instruments for measuring tension, as of the eyeball, or pressure, as of the blood ton·o·met·ric (tän'ou me´trik, tou'nou-) •adj. to·nom´e·try •n. [< Gr tonos, TONE + -METER]

tonsil (tän´sэl) •n. either of a pair of oval masses of lymphoid tissue, one on each side of the throat at the back of the mouth ton´sil·lar •adj. [L tonsillae, pl., dim. of tōlēs (< *tonsles), goiter]

tonsillectomy (tän'sэ lek´tэ mi:) pl. -mies •n. the surgical removal of the tonsils [prec. + -ECTOMY]

tonsillitis (tän'sэ lait´is) •n. inflammation of the tonsils ton'sil·lit´ic (-lit´ik) •adj. [ModL < L tonsillae, tonsils + -itis, -ITIS]

tonsillotomy (tän'sэ lät´э mi:) pl. -mies •n. the surgical incision, or a partial removal, of a tonsil [< L tonsillae, tonsils + -TOMY]

tonsorial (tän sör´i: эl) •adj. of a barber or barbering: often used humorously {a tonsorial artist} [L tonsorius, of clipping < tonsor, clipper < tonsus, pp. of tondere, to shear: see -TOMY]

tonsure (tän´shэr) •n. 1 a clipping off or shaving off of part or all of the hair of the head, done esp. formerly as a signal of entrance into the clerical or monastic state 2 the head area so clipped or shaved •vt. -sured, -sur·ing to clip or shave the head hair of for such a purpose [ME < MFr < L tonsura < tonsus: see TONSORIAL]

tontine (tän´ti:n', tän ti:n´) •n. 1 a) a fund to which a group of persons contribute, the benefits ultimately accruing to the last survivor or to those surviving after a specified time b) the subscribers to such a fund, collectively c) the total fund or the share of each subscriber 2 any annuity or insurance system of this kind [Fr < It tontina, after Lorenzo Tonti, Neapolitan banker who introduced the system into France in the 17th c.]

tonus (tou´nэs) •n. the slight, continuous partial contraction characteristic of a normal relaxed muscle: see CLONUS [ModL < L: see TONE]

tony (toun´i:) ton´i·er, ton´i·est •adj. [Slang] high-toned; luxurious; stylish: often ironic Tony (tou´ni:) a masculine name: see ANTHONY •n. pl. -nys or -nies Æ any of the awards made annually in the U.S. for special achievement in the theater in acting, directing, etc. [nickname of Antoinette Perry (1888-1946), U.S. theatrical figure]

Tonya (tän´yэ, tou´-) a feminine name: dim. Toni; var. Tonia: see ANTONIA

too (tu:) •adv. 1 in addition; as well; besides; also 2 more than enough; superfluously; overly {the hat is too big} 3 to a regrettable extent {that's too bad!} 4 extremely; very {it was just too delicious!} Too is often used as a mere emphatic [I will too go!] and is sometimes construed as an adjective in modifying much, little, etc. [there was not too much to see] [stressed form of TO, with differentiated sp.]

took (tuk) •vt., vi. pt. of TAKE

tool (tu:l) •n. 1 any implement, instrument, or utensil held in the hand and used for cutting, hitting, digging, rubbing, etc.: knives, saws, hammers, shovels, rakes, etc. are tools 2 a) any similar instrument that is the working part of a power-driven machine, as a drill, band-saw blade, etc. b) the whole machine; machine tool 3 anything that serves in the manner of a tool; a means {books are a scholar's tools} 4 a person used to accomplish another's purposes, esp. when these are illegal or unethical; dupe; stooge 5 Law any instrument or device necessary to one's profession or occupation: in full tools of one's trade •vt. 1 to form, shape, or work with a tool 2 to provide tools or machinery for (a factory, industry, etc.): often with up 3 a) to drive (a vehicle) b) to convey (a person) in a vehicle 4 to impress letters or designs on (leather, a book cover, etc.) with special tools •vi. 1 to use a tool or tools 2 to get or install the tools, equipment, etc. needed: often with up 3 to ride or drive in a vehicle SYN. IMPLEMENT tool´er •n. [ME toole < OE tol, akin to ON tol < ? IE base *deu- > TAW²]

toolbox (tu:l´bäks') •n. a box or chest, usually compartmentalized, in which tools are kept Also tool chest

tooling (tu:l´iŋ) •n. 1 work or decoration done with tools 2 the process of fitting out a factory with machine tools in readiness for going into production

toolmaker (tu:l´meik'эr) •n. a machinist who makes, maintains, and repairs machine tools tool´mak'ing •n.

toolroom (-ru:m') •n. a room, as in a machine shop, where tools are stored, kept in repair, issued to workers, etc.

toolshed (-shed') •n. a small structure, as at the back of a house, where tools are kept Also tool´house' (-haus')

toon (tu:n) •n. 1 a large Australian and East Indian tree (Cedrela toona) of the mahogany family, with soft, closegrained, reddish wood used in furniture: its flowers yield a dye 2 its wood [Hindi tūn < Sans tunna]

toot (tu:t) •vi. 1 to blow a horn, whistle, etc. in short blasts 2 to sound in short blasts: said of a horn, whistle, etc. 3 to make a sound like a horn or whistle •vt. 1 to cause to sound in short blasts 2 to sound (tones, blasts, etc.) as on a horn 3 [Slang] to sniff (cocaine) •n. 1 a short blast of a horn, whistle, etc. Æ 2 [Slang] a drinking spree [prob. a play on (WET ONE'S) WHISTLE] 3 [Slang] cocaine, or a small amount of it sniffed at one time [prob. via LowG tuten < echoic base]

tooth (tu:θ; for v., also tu:ð) pl. teeth (ti:θ) •n. 1 a) any of a set of hard, bonelike structures set in the jaws of most vertebrates and used for biting, tearing, and chewing: a tooth consists typically of a sensitive, vascular pulp surrounded by dentin and coated on the crown with enamel and on the root with cementum: normally 32 are in the permanent set and 20 in the deciduous set of a human b) any of various analogous processes in invertebrates c) [pl.] DENTURE (sense 2) 2 something resembling a tooth; toothlike part, as on a saw, fork, rake, gearwheel, etc.; tine, prong, cog, etc. 3 appetite or taste for something specified {a sweet tooth} 4 something that bites, pierces, or gnaws like a tooth {the teeth of the storm} 5 a rough surface, as on paper, metal, etc. 6 [pl.] a sound or effective means of enforcing something {to put teeth into a law} 7 Bot. any small, pointed lobe, as of a leaf or of the fringe surrounding the opening of a capsule in mosses •vt. 1 to provide with teeth 2 to make jagged; indent •vi. to mesh, or become interlocked, as gears For phrases using teeth, see TEETH long in the tooth elderly; old tooth and nail with all one's strength or resources tooth´less •adj. SYN.—tooth is the general, inclusive word (see the definition above); tusk refers to a long, pointed, enlarged tooth projecting outside the mouth in certain animals, as the elephant, wild boar, and walrus, and used for digging or as a weapon; fang refers either to one of the long, sharp teeth with which meat-eating animals tear their prey or to the long, hollow tooth through which poisonous snakes inject their venom [ME < OE toth (< *tanth), akin to Ger zahn < IE *edont- (< base *ed-, to eat) > L dens (gen. dentis), Gr odous (gen. odontos)]

tooth fairy an imaginary being who puts money under a child's pillow in exchange for a fallen-out tooth placed there by the child

tooth powder a powder used like toothpaste

tooth shell SCAPHOPOD

toothache (tu:θ´eik') •n. pain in or near a tooth

toothbrush (-brûsh') •n. a brush for cleaning the teeth and stimulating the gums

toothed (tu:θt, tu:ðd) •adj. 1 having (a specified kind or number of) teeth: often used in hyphenated compounds {big-toothed} 2 notched; indented

toothed whale any of an order (Odontoceta) of whales with conical teeth and a telescoped nonsymmetrical skull, including sperm whales, dolphins, and porpoises

toothpaste (tu:θ´peist') •n. a paste used in cleaning the teeth with a toothbrush

toothpick (tu:θ´pik') •n. a very small, pointed stick for getting bits of food free from between the teeth

toothsome (tu:θ´sэm) •adj. 1 pleasing to the taste; palatable 2 attractive, esp. sexually attractive tooth´some·ly •adv. tooth´some·ness •n. [TOOTH + -SOME¹]

toothwort (tu:θ´wørt') •n. 1 any of a genus (Dentaria) of small woodland plants of the crucifer family, having scaly or toothed, pungent rhizomes and white or pinkish flowers in spring 2 any of a genus (Lathraea) of European parasitic plants of the broomrape family, having a rhizome covered with tooth-shaped scales

toothy (tu:θ´i:) tooth´i·er, tooth´i·est •adj. having or exposing teeth that show prominently {a toothy smile} tooth´i·ly •adv. tooth´i·ness •n.

tootle (tu:t´ªl) -tled, -tling •vi. to toot softly and more or less continuously on a horn, flute, etc. •n. the act or sound of tootling too´tler •n. [freq. of TOOT]

toots (tuts) •n. [Old Slang] darling; dear: affectionate or playful term of address, esp. for a girl or woman [< fol.]

tootsy or tootsie (tut´si:) pl. -sies •n. [Old Slang] 1 a foot 2 TOOTS 3 a girl or woman, esp. one who is promiscuous: often used disparagingly [child's term]

Top 40 (or Forty) the 40 current best-selling recordings

top banana [Slang] 1 a top performer in show business; specif., the star comedian in a burlesque show: cf. SECOND BANANA 2 the most important person in any group [prob. so named in reference to the banana-shaped soft club carried by comedians]

top boot any of several high boots reaching to just below the knee: its upper part is usually of a different material

top brass [Slang] important officials: see BRASS (n. 6)

top dog [Slang] the person, company, etc. in a dominant or leading position, esp. in a competitive situation

top dollar [Colloq.] the highest price, salary, etc. being paid for a particular commodity or service

top hat a tall, black, cylindrical hat, usually of silk, worn by men in formal dress

top kick [Mil. Slang] FIRST SERGEANT

top sergeant [Colloq.] FIRST SERGEANT

top¹ (täp) •n. 1 orig., a) a tuft of hair b) the hair of the head 2 the head, or crown of the head: now chiefly in top to toe 3 the upper or highest part, section, point, or surface of anything {the top of a hill} 4 the part of a plant that grows above ground {beet tops} 5 something that constitutes the uppermost part or covering of something else; specif., a) a lid, cover, cap, etc. {a box top, bottle top} b) the upper part of an automobile body, esp. a folding roof or cover c) a platform around the head of each lower mast of a sailing ship, to which the rigging of the topmast is attached 6 [sometimes pl.] the upper unit of a two-piece garment, as a pajama blouse 7 a person or thing first in order, excellence, importance, etc.; specif., a) the highest degree or pitch; zenith; acme {at the top of one's voice, the top of one's career} b) the highest rank, position, etc. {at the top in one's profession} c) a person in this rank, etc. d) the choicest part; pick; cream {the top of the crop, top of the morning} e) the beginning, as of a piece of music {take it from the top} Æ f) Baseball the first half (of an inning) 8 [pl.] [Slang] preeminent in quality, ability, popularity, etc.; the very best: used predicatively (often with the) 9 [pl.] Card Games the highest cards of a suit 10 Chem. the most volatile part of a mixture 11 Sports a) a stroke that hits the ball above center or near its top b) the forward spin given the ball by such a stroke •adj. of, situated at, or being the top; uppermost, highest, greatest, or foremost {the top drawer, top honors} •vt. topped, top´ping 1 to take off the top of (a plant, etc.) 2 a) to provide or cover with a top b) to put or place on the top of 3 to be a top for 4 to reach the top of; be on a level with 5 to exceed in amount, height, degree, etc. {a fish topping 75 pounds} 6 to be better, more effective, funnier, etc. than; surpass; outdo 7 to go over the top of (a rise of ground, etc.) 8 to be at the top of; head; lead 9 Chem. to remove the volatile parts from by distillation 10 Dyeing to finish with a certain dye 11 Sports a) to hit or stroke (a ball) at a point above its center or near its top, giving it a forward spin b) to make (a stroke) by hitting the ball in this way •vi. to top someone or something (in any sense) Æ blow one's top [Slang] 1 to lose one's temper 2 to become insane off the top [Slang] from gross income Æ off the top of one's head speaking offhand, without careful thought on top at the top; successful on top of 1 on or at the top of 2 resting upon 3 in addition to; besides 4 following immediately after 5 controlling successfully over the top 1 over the front of a trench, as in attacking 2 exceeding the assigned quota or goal top off 1 to complete by adding a finishing touch 2 [Colloq.] to fill to the top Æ top out 1 to complete the skeleton or framework of a building, esp. a skyscraper 2 to level off top up [Chiefly Brit.] 1 to fill to the top 2 to increase to the highest level, amount, etc. [ME < OE topp, akin to ON toppr, tuft, top, Ger zopf, tuft of hair, summit]

top² (täp) •n. a child's cone-shaped toy, spun on its pointed end sleep like a top to sleep soundly [< OE, prob. special use of prec.]

Top-40 or Top-Forty (täp´för´ti:) •adj. of or relating to Top 40 or the kind of popular music they represent {Top-40 radio}

topaz (tou´pæz') •n. 1 a native silicate of aluminum and fluorine, Al2SiO4(F, OH)2, usually containing hydroxyl and occurring in white, yellow, pale-blue, or pale-green, orthorhombic crystals; esp., a yellow variety of this, used as a gem 2 a) a yellow variety of sapphire b) a yellow variety of quartz 3 either of two brightly colored hummingbirds (Topaza pyra or T. pella) of South America [ME topace < OFr topase < L topazus < Gr topazos]

topazolite (tou pæz´э lait') •n. a yellow to greenish variety of andradite garnet [< Gr topazos, topaz + -LITE]

topcoat (täp´kout') •n. a lightweight overcoat

top-drawer (täp´drör´) •adj. of first importance, privilege, etc.

top-dressing (-dres'iŋ) •n. 1 material applied to a surface, as fertilizer on land or crops, or stones on a road 2 the applying of such material top´-dress' •vt.

tope¹ (toup) toped, top´ing •vt., vi. [Archaic] to drink (alcoholic liquor) in large amounts and often [Fr toper, to accept the stakes in gambling (prob. < ODu topp, touch): E meaning given here is prob. from the custom of drinking to the conclusion of the wager]

tope² (toup) •n. a Buddhist shrine in the form of a dome with a cupola [Hindi top, ult. < Sans stūpa, a mound, tope]

tope³ (toup) •n. a small, gray, European requiem shark (Galeorhinus galeus) [< ? Cornish]

topee (tou pi:´, tou´pi:) •n. in India, a hat or cap, esp. a pith helmet worn as a sunshade: also sp. to·pi´ [Hindi topī]

Topeka (tэ pi:´kэ) capital of Kans., in the NE part, on the Kansas River: pop. 120,000 [prob. < Kansa (a Siouan language) toppik'e, lit., dig good Indian potatoes]

toper (toup´эr) •n. a person who topes; drunkard

top-flight (täp´flait´) •adj. [Colloq.] best; first-rate

topfull (täp´ful') •adj. [Now Rare] filled to the top

topgallant (täp'gæl´эnt; naut. tэ gæl´эnt) •adj. 1 designating or of a mast, sail, spar, etc. situated above the topmast and below the royal mast on a sailing ship 2 higher than the adjoining parts of the ship: said of a rail, deck, etc. •n. a topgallant mast, sail, etc.

top-hamper (täp´hæm'pэr) •n. 1 the upper masts, spars, and rigging of a sailing ship, usually kept aloft 2 rigging, spars, etc. not needed immediately and an encumbrance aloft or on deck Also top hamper

top-heavy (täp´hev'i:) •adj. too heavy at the top for the base below, so as to be likely to fall over or collapse: also used figuratively, as of an organization with too many executives top´-heav'i·ly •adv. top´-heav'i·ness •n.

Tophet or Topheth (tou´fet') 1 Bible a place near Jerusalem where human sacrifices were made to Molech: 2 Kings 23:10 2 hell [ME < Heb tofet]

top-hole (täp´houl´) •adj. [Brit. Slang] first-rate

tophus (tou´fэs) pl. -phi (-fai) •n. Med. an abnormal mineral deposit, as of calcium carbonate, about the joints, on the roots of the teeth, etc., in a person who has the gout; chalkstone [L, tufa]

topiary (tou´pi: er'i:) •adj. designating or of the art of trimming and training shrubs or trees into unusual, ornamental shapes •n. pl. -ar'ies 1 topiary art or work 2 a topiary garden [L topiarius, concerning an ornamental garden < topia (opera), ornamental gardening < Gr topos, place: see TOPIC]

topic (täp´ik) •n. 1 [Historical] a) a class or category of considerations or arguments on which a rhetorician may draw b) one such consideration or argument 2 the subject of a paragraph, essay, speech, etc. 3 a subject for discussion or conversation 4 a heading or item in an outline SYN. SUBJECT [L topica < Gr ta topika, title of a work by ARISTOTLE < topikos, local, concerning < topoi, commonplaces < topos, place < IE base *top-, to arrive, goal > OE thafian, to endure]

topic sentence the principal sentence, setting forth the main idea and coming usually at the beginning, in a paragraph or section of a discourse, esp. of an expository nature

topical (täp´i kэl) •adj. 1 of a particular place; local 2 of, using, or arranged by topics, subjects, or headings 3 having to do with topics of the day; of current or local interest {topical allusions in literature} 4 Med. of or for a particular part of the body; esp., designating or by local application {a topical remedy} top'i·cal´i·ty (-kæl´э ti:) •n. top´i·cal·ly •adv.

topknot (täp´nät') •n. 1 a knot of feathers, ribbons, etc. worn as a headdress 2 a) a tuft of hair on the crown of the head b) a tuft of feathers on a bird's head

topless (täp´lis) •adj. 1 without a top Æ 2 designating, wearing, or having to do with the wearing of a costume, bathing suit, etc. which leaves the breasts uncovered {a topless dancer, topless bar} 3 seeming to have no top; very high {a topless tower}

top-level (täp´lev´эl) •adj. 1 of or by persons of the highest office or rank 2 in the highest office or rank

toplofty (täp´löf'ti:) •adj. [Colloq.] lofty in manner; haughty; pompous top´loft'i·ly •adv. top´loft'i·ness •n.

topmast (täp´mæst'; naut., -mэst) •n. the second mast above the deck of a sailing ship, supported by the lower mast and often supporting a topgallant mast in turn

topminnow (täp´min'ou) •n. 1 LIVEBEARER 2 KILLIFISH

topmost (täp´moust') •adj. at the very top; uppermost

top-notch (-näch´) •adj. [Colloq.] first-rate; excellent

topog or topo topography

topographer (tэ päg´rэ fэr) •n. 1 an expert or specialist in topography 2 a person who describes or maps the topography of a place or region

topography (tэ päg´rэ fi:) pl. -phies •n. 1 orig., the accurate and detailed description of a place 2 a) the science of drawing on maps and charts or otherwise representing the surface features of a region, including its relief and rivers, lakes, etc., and such man-made features as canals, bridges, roads, etc. b) these surface features 3 topographic surveying 4 a study or description of a region, system, or part of the body showing specific relations of component parts as to shape, size, position, etc. {cerebral topography} 5 any similar study of an entity, as the mind, the atom, a particular discipline, etc. top·o·graph·ic (täp'э græf´ik) or top'o·graph´i·cal •adj. top'o·graph´i·cal·ly •adv. [ME topographye < LL topographia < Gr: see TOPIC & -GRAPHY]

topology (tou päl´э ji:, tэ-) pl. -gies •n. 1 a topographical study of a specific object, entity, place, etc. {the topology of the mind} 2 Math. the study of those properties of geometric figures that remain unchanged even when under distortion, so long as no surfaces are torn, as with a Möbius strip 3 Med. the topographic anatomy of a body region top'o·log´ic or top·o·log·i·cal (täp'э läj´i kэl) •adj. top'o·log´i·cal·ly •adv. to·pol´o·gist •n. [< Gr topos, a place (see TOPIC) + -LOGY]

toponym (täp´э nim') •n. 1 a name of a place 2 a name that indicates origin, natural locale, etc., as in zoological nomenclature [back-form. < TOPONYMY]

toponymic (täp'э nim´ik) •adj. 1 of toponyms 2 having to do with toponymy Also top'o·nym´i·cal

toponymy (tou pän´э mi:) •n. 1 the place names of a country, district, etc., or the study of these 2 [Rare] Anat. the nomenclature of the regions of the body [< Gr topos, a place (see TOPIC) + -onymia, a naming < onyma, NAME]

topos (tou´pous) pl. to·poi (-poi) •n. 1 a common or recurring topic, theme, subject, etc. 2 a literary convention or formula

topper (täp´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that tops 2 [Colloq.] a) TOP HAT b) a woman's short, loosefitting topcoat Æ 3 [Slang] a remark, joke, etc. that tops, or surpasses, those preceding

topping (täp´iŋ) •n. 1 the action of a person or thing that tops 2 something that forms the top of, or is put on top of, something else, as a sauce on food •adj. 1 that excels in degree, rank, etc. 2 [Old Brit. Slang] excellent

topple (täp´эl) -pled, -pling •vi. 1 to fall top forward; fall (over) from top-heaviness, etc. 2 to lean forward as if on the point of falling; overbalance; totter •vt. 1 to cause to topple; overturn 2 to overthrow {to topple a monarch} [< TOP¹, v. + -LE]

topsail (täp´seil'; naut., -sэl) •n. 1 in a square-rigged vessel, the square sail, or either of a pair of square sails, next above the lowest sail on a mast 2 in a fore-and-aft-rigged vessel, the small sail set above the gaff of a fore-and-aft sail

top-secret (-si:´krit) •adj. designating or of the most highly restricted military or government information

topside (täp´said') •n. [usually pl.] the part of a ship's side above the waterline •adv. on or to an upper deck or the main deck of a ship

topsoil (-soil') •n. the upper layer of soil, usually darker and richer than the subsoil; surface soil

topspin (-spin') •n. spin given to a ball, as in hitting a ground stroke in tennis, in which the ball rotates forward in the direction of flight

topsy-turvy (täp´si: tør´vi:) •adv., adj. 1 upside down; in a reversed condition 2 in confusion or disorder •n. 1 a topsy-turvy condition; inverted state 2 a state of confusion top´sy-tur´vi·ly •adv. top´sy-tur´vi·ness •n. [earlier topsy-tervy, prob. < top, highest part + ME terven, to roll]

toque (touk) •n. 1 a small, plumed hat worn by men and women in the 16th cent. 2 a woman's small, round, closefitting, usually brimless hat [Fr, a cap < Sp toca < Basque tauka, kind of cap]

toque blanche (touk'bläñsh´) pl. toques blanches (touk'bläñsh´) the tall white hat traditionally worn by a chef

tor (tör) •n. a high, rocky hill; crag [ME < OE torr, a tower, crag < Brit]

torah or tora (tou´rэ, tör´э, tou rä´) •n. 1 learning, law, instruction, etc. 2 pl. -roth or -rot (-rэs, -rout´) [usually T-] a parchment scroll containing the Pentateuch [usually T-] 1 the whole body of Jewish religious literature, including the Scripture, the Talmud, etc. 2 the Pentateuch [Heb tora, law < hora, to teach < root jrh, to cast, throw]

torch (törch) •n. 1 a portable light consisting of a long piece of resinous wood, or twisted tow dipped in tallow, etc., flaming at one end; link; flambeau 2 anything considered as a source of enlightenment, illumination, inspiration, etc. {the torch of science} 3 any of various portable devices for producing a very hot flame, used in welding, burning off paint, etc. 4 [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.)] a flashlight •vt. Æ [Slang] to set fire to, as in arson Æ carry a (or the) torch for [Slang] to be in love with (someone), esp. without having one's love returned [ME < OFr torche < VL *torca, twisted object, for L torqua < torquere, to twist: see TORSION]

torch song a sentimental popular song of unrequited or unhappy love torch singer [< phrase carry a torch for: see TORCH]

torchbearer (-ber'эr) •n. 1 a person who carries a torch 2 a) a person who brings enlightenment, truth, etc. b) an inspirational leader, as in some movement

torchier or torchiere (tör chir´, -shir´) •n. a floor lamp with a reflector bowl and no shade, for casting light upward so as to give indirect illumination [< Fr torchère, small, high candle stand < OFr torche: see TORCH]

torchlight (törch´lait') •n. the light of a torch or torches Æ adj. done or carried on by torchlight

torchon lace (tör´shän'; Fr tôř shouñ´) 1 a strong, bobbin lace made of coarse linen or cotton thread in simple, open, geometric patterns 2 an imitation of this made by machine [Fr torchon, dishcloth, duster < OFr torche: see TORCH]

torchwood (törch´wud') •n. 1 any of a number of trees with resinous wood from which torches can be made 2 any of a genus (Amyris) of tropical American trees and shrubs of the rue family, having hard, resinous wood 3 the wood of any of these trees

tore¹ (tör) •vt., vi. alt. pt. of TEAR¹

tore² (tör) •n. Archit., Geom. var. of TORUS

toreador (tör´i: э dör') •n. a bullfighter, esp. one on horseback Term no longer used in bullfighting [Sp < torear, to fight bulls < toro, bull < L taurus, bull: see TAURUS]

torero (tэ rer´ou; Sp tô ře´řô) pl. -ros' (-ouz'; Sp, -řôs) •n. a bullfighter, esp. a matador [Sp < VL *taurarius < L taurus: see TOREADOR]

toreutic (tou ru:t´ik) •adj. designating or of work done in relief or intaglio, esp. on metal, as by embossing, chasing, or engraving [Gr toreutikos < toreuein, to work in relief, bore < IE base *ter- > THROW]

toreutics (tou ru:t´iks) •n.pl. [with sing. v.] the art of making toreutic work

tori (tou´rai', tör´ai') •n. pl. of TORUS

toric (tou´rik, tör´ik) •adj. of or shaped like a torus

torii (tou´ri: i:') pl. -ri·i' •n. a gateway at the entrance to a Japanese Shinto shrine, consisting of two uprights supporting a curved beam, with a straight crosspiece below [Jpn < tori, bird + i, nominal form of iru, to be, exist: birds offered to the gods were to perch on the crosspiece]

Torino (tэ ri:´nou; It tô ři:´nô) It. name of TURIN

torment (for n. tör´ment'; for v. tör ment´, tör´ment') •n. 1 [Obs.] an instrument of torture or the torture inflicted 2 great pain or anguish, physical or mental; suffering; agony 3 a source of pain, anxiety, or annoyance •vt. [ME tormenten < OFr tourmenter < the n.] 1 [Rare] to torture 2 to cause great physical pain or mental anguish in 3 to annoy, harass, or tease 4 [Obs.] to stir up; agitate SYN. BAIT tor·ment´ing·ly •adv. [OFr < L tormentum, a rack, instrument of torture, torture, pain, orig., machine for twisting or throwing < torquere, to twist, whirl around, fling: see TORT]

tormentil (tör´men til') •n. a European cinquefoil (Potentilla tormentilla) with yellow flowers and rhizomes used in tanning and dyeing [ME turmentill < ML tormentilla < L tormentum (see TORMENT): from belief in the pain-killing power of the plant]

tormentor (tör ment´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that torments 2 Theater a flat or curtain projecting out onto either side of a proscenium stage, for concealing the wings and backstage from the audience [because it can obstruct the view of those sitting at the sides] 3 Film a covered screen for absorbing echoes on a set Also sp. tor·ment´er [ME tormentour < OFr tormenteor]

torn (törn) •vt., vi. alt. pp. of TEAR¹

tornado (tör nei´dou) pl. -does •n.or -dos Æ 1 a violently whirling column of air, with wind speeds of c. 160 to 480 km/hr. (c. 100 to 300 mi./hr.), extending downward from a cumulonimbus cloud, esp. in Australia and the central U.S.: almost always seen as a rapidly rotating, slender, funnel-shaped cloud that usually destroys everything along its narrow path 2 in W Africa and the adjacent Atlantic, a severe thundersquall 3 any whirlwind or hurricane Æ tor·nad´ic (-næd´ik) •adj. [altered (prob. based on Sp tornar, to turn) < Sp tronada, thunder, thunderstorm < tronar, to thunder < L tonare, to THUNDER]

tornillo (tör ni:´you, -nil´ou) pl. -los •n. SCREW BEAN [Sp, lit., screw, dim. of torno, winch, spindle, wheel < L tornus, turner's wheel, lathe: see TURN]

toroid (tou´roid', tör´oid') •n. 1 Elec. a doughnut-shaped coil 2 Geom. a surface, or its enclosed solid, generated by any closed plane curve rotating about a straight line in its own plane to·roi·dal (tou roid´ªl) •adj. [TOR(E)² + -OID]

Toronto (tэ ränt´ou) capital of Ontario, Canada: port on Lake Ontario: pop. 633,000 (met. area 3,000,000) [< an Iroquoian language: meaning unknown]

torose (tou´rous', tör´ous'; tou rous´) •adj. 1 bulging, knobbed, etc. 2 Bot. cylindrical, with swellings at intervals Also to·rous (tou´rэs, tör´эs) [L torosus, full of muscle, knotty < torus, muscle]

torpedo (tör pi:´dou) pl. -does •n. 1 ELECTRIC RAY Æ 2 a large, cigar-shaped, self-propelled, underwater projectile for launching against enemy ships from a submarine, airplane, etc.: it is detonated by contact, sound, etc. 3 a metal case containing explosives, esp. one used as an underwater mine 4 a small fireworks device consisting of a percussion cap and gravel wrapped in tissue paper, which explodes with a loud noise when thrown against a hard surface Æ 5 an explosive cartridge or a flare, placed on a railroad track and detonated by a train wheel as a signal to the crew Æ 6 an explosive cartridge lowered into oil wells, where it is detonated to clear the bore or break through into the oil pocket Æ 7 [Slang] a gangster or gunman hired as a bodyguard, assassin, etc. •vt. -doed, -do·ing to attack, damage, or destroy with or as with a torpedo [L, numbness, crampfish < torpere, to be stiff: see TORPID]

torpedo boat a small, fast, maneuverable warship for attacking with torpedoes

torpedo tube a tube for launching torpedoes, located in surface vessels below or close to the waterline

torpedo-boat destroyer (tör pi:´dou bout') a former warship like a torpedo boat but larger and more heavily armed, orig. designed to destroy torpedo boats

torpid (tör´pid) •adj. 1 a) having lost temporarily all or part of the power of sensation or motion, as a hibernating animal; dormant b) sluggish in functioning 2 slow and dull; apathetic tor·pid´i·ty or tor´pid·ness •n. tor´pid·ly •adv. [L torpidus < torpere, to be numb or torpid < IE *(s)terp- < base *(s)ter-, to be stiff > STARE, STARVE]

torpor (tör´pэr) •n. 1 a state of being dormant or inactive; temporary loss of all or part of the power of sensation or motion; sluggishness; stupor 2 dullness; apathy [L < torpere: see TORPID]

torporific (tör'pэr if´ik) •adj. inducing torpor

torquate (tör´kwit, -kweit') •adj. having a torques [L torquatus]

torque (törk) •n. 1 a twisted metal collar or necklace worn by ancient Teutons, Gauls, Britons, etc. 2 Physics a measure of the tendency of a force to cause rotation, equal to the force multiplied by the perpendicular distance between the line of action of the force and the center of rotation 3 popularly, the force that acts to produce rotation, as in an automotive vehicle [< L torques (infl. in senses 2 & 3 by torquere): see TORQUES]

torque converter a hydraulic device for transferring and increasing torque: an essential component of an automatic transmission in a motor vehicle

torque wrench a wrench that indicates, as on a dial, the amount of torque exerted in tightening a bolt, nut, etc.

Torquemada (tör'kэ mäd´э; Sp tôr'ke mä´ðä), To·más de (tô mäs´ ðe) 1420-98; Sp. Dominican monk: first Grand Inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition

torques (tör´kwi:z') •n. a ring of hair, feathers, or modified skin around the neck of an animal or bird, of a distinctive color or form [L, twisted necklace < torquere, to twist: see TORT]

torr (tör) •n. a unit of pressure equal to c. 133.322 pascals, the pressure needed to support a column of mercury 1 mm high under standard conditions [after TORRICELLI]

Torrance (tör´эns) city in SW Calif.: suburb of Los Angeles: pop. 133,000 [after Jared S. Torrance, local landowner]

torrefy (tör´э fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. to dry or parch (drugs or ores) with heat tor're·fac´tion (-fæk´shэn) •n. [Fr torréfier < L torrefacere < torrere, to dry by heat (see THIRST) + facere, to make, DO¹]

Torrenize (tör´э naiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to register (property) under a Torrens law

Torrens (tör´эnz), Lake shallow salt lake in SE South Australia: c. 2,230 sq. mi. (5,775 sq. km)

Torrens law (tör´эnz, tär´-) any of various statutes that provide for the registration of the title to land with the government, which issues a warranted title deed (Torrens certificate) to said land [after Sir Robert Torrens (1814-84), Austral statesman]

torrent (tör´эnt, tär´-) •n. 1 a swift, violent stream, esp. of water 2 a flood or rush of words, mail, etc. 3 a very heavy fall of rain •adj. [Rare] of or like a torrent [Fr < L torrens, burning, roaring, rushing, impetuous, prp. of torrere, to parch, dry, roast, consume: see THIRST]

torrential (tö ren´shэl, tэ-) •adj. 1 of, having the nature of, or produced by, a torrent 2 like a torrent, as in violence or copiousness tor·ren´tial·ly •adv.

Torreón (tör'i: oun´; Sp töř řei ôn´) city in NC Mexico, in Coahuila state: pop. 364,000

Torres Strait (tör´iz) strait between New Guinea & NE Australia: c. 95 mi. (152 km) wide

Torricelli (tör'э chel´i:; It tôř'ři: chel´li:), E·van·ge·lis·ta (e'vän je li:s´tä) 1608-47; It. physicist & mathematician: discovered principle of the barometer

torrid (tör´id, tär´-) •adj. 1 dried by or subjected to intense heat, esp. of the sun; scorched; parched; arid 2 so hot as to be parching or oppressive; scorching 3 highly passionate, ardent, zealous, etc. tor·rid·i·ty (tö rid´э ti:) or tor´rid·ness •n. tor´rid·ly •adv. [L torridus < torrere, to dry: see THIRST]

Torrid Zone the area of the earth's surface between the Tropic of Cancer & the Tropic of Capricorn, divided by the equator

torsade (tör seid´) •n. 1 a twisted cord used in drapery, etc. 2 a molded or worked ornament resembling this [Fr < ML torsus, twisted, for L tortus: see TORT]

torsi (tör´si:) •n. alt. pl. of TORSO

torsibility (tör'sэ bil´э ti:) •n. ability to undergo, or resistance to, torsion

torsion (tör´shэn) •n. 1 the process or condition of twisting or being twisted 2 Mech. a) the stress or strain produced in a body, as a rod, wire, or thread, by turning one end along a longitudinal axis while the other end is held firm or twisted in the opposite direction b) the torque exerted by a body in reaction to being placed under torsion tor´sion·al •adj. tor´sion·al·ly •adv. [ME torcion < MFr torsion < LL(Ec) torsio < pp. of L torquere, to twist: see TORT]

torsion balance an instrument for measuring small forces, such as those caused by gravitation, electric charges, or magnetism, by recording the amount of torsion they produce in a fine wire

torsion bar a metal bar exhibiting resilience under torsion; specif., one used in place of a coil spring in the suspension of some motor vehicles

torsk (törsk) pl. torsk •n.or torsks any gadoid fish [Norw torsk < ON thorskr, orig., fish that is dried < IE base *ters- > THIRST]

torso (tör´sou) pl. -sos or -si (-si:) •n. 1 the trunk of a statue of the nude human figure, esp. of such a statue lacking the head and full limbs 2 the trunk of the human body 3 any unfinished or fragmentary piece of work [It, stump, trunk of a statue < L thyrsus, a stalk, stem < Gr thyrsos, a stem, wand]

tort (tört) •n. a wrongful act, injury, or damage (not involving a breach of contract), for which a civil action can be brought [OFr < ML tortum < neut. of L tortus, pp. of torquere, to twist < IE *terk-, to turn < base *ter-, to rub > THROW]

torte (tört; Ger tôř´tэ) pl. tortes; Ger. tor·ten (töř´tэn) •n. a rich cake, variously made, as of eggs, finely chopped nuts, and crumbs or a little flour [Ger < It torta < LL(Ec), twisted bread: see TART²]

tortellini (tör'tэ li:´ni:) •n. pasta in tiny ring-shaped or round pieces, filled with meat, vegetables, etc., and served with a sauce or in a broth [It (pl.), dim. of tortella, dim. of torta: see TORTE]

tort-feasor (tört´fi:´zэr) •n. Law a person who commits or is guilty of a tort [Fr tortfaiseur < MFr < tort, TORT + faiseur, one who does < fais-, stem of faire, to do < L facere: see DO¹]

torticollis (tör'ti käl´is) •n. Med. a condition of persistent involuntary contraction of the neck muscles, causing the head to be twisted to an abnormal position [ModL < L tortus, twisted + collum, the neck: see TORT & COLLAR]

tortile (tör´til, -tail') •adj. twisted or coiled [L tortilis < tortus: see TORT]

tortilla (tör ti:´э, -yэ) •n. a thin, flat, round cake of unleavened cornmeal, now sometimes of flour, baked on a griddle or, orig., a flat stone [Sp, dim. of torta, a cake < LL(Ec): see TART²]

tortious (tör´shэs) •adj. Law of or involving a tort tor´tious·ly •adv. [ME torcious < Anglo-Fr]

tortoise (tör´tэs, -tis) pl. -tois·es •n.or -toise a turtle, esp. one that lives on land, as any of a worldwide family (Testudinidae): see TURTLE [ME tortuce < ML tortuca, altered (prob. by assoc. with L tortus, twisted) < VL *tartaruca < ? LGr tartarouchos, evil demon, orig., controlling Tartarus]

tortoise beetle any of various small, often brightly colored or iridescent, turtle-shaped beetles (family Chrysomelidae) that feed chiefly on plant leaves

tortoise shell 1 the hard, mottled, yellow-and-brown shell of some turtles and tortoises, used in inlaying and, esp. formerly, in making combs, frames for eyeglasses, etc. 2 a synthetic substance made in imitation of this 3 any of several common, black and yellow-brown butterflies (genus Nymphalis) with markings resembling those of tortoise shell tor´toise-shell' •adj.

Tortola (tör tou´lэ) chief island of the British Virgin Islands: 21 sq. mi. (54 sq. km); pop. 9,000

tortoni (tör tou´ni:) •n. an ice cream made with heavy cream, maraschino cherries, almonds, etc. [prob. altered < It tortone, lit., big tart < torta, tart < LL(Ec): see TART²]

tortricid (tör´tri sid) •n. any of a family (Tortricidae) of small, broad-bodied moths whose larvae feed on the leaves of shrubs and trees: the larvae of some species roll and fasten leaves together to form nests [< ModL Tortricidae < L tortus: see TORT]

Tortuga (tör tu:´gэ) island of Haiti, off the NW coast: c. 70 sq. mi. (181 sq. km): pop. 14,000: Fr. name La Tor·tue (lå tôř tü´)

tortuosity (tör'chu: äs´э ti:, -tyu:-) •n. 1 the quality or condition of being tortuous 2 pl. -ties a twist, turn, etc. [L tortuositas]

tortuous (tör´chu: эs, -chэ wэs; -tyu: эs) •adj. 1 full of twists, turns, curves, or windings; winding; crooked 2 not straightforward; devious; specif., deceitful or tricky tor´tu·ous·ly •adv. tor´tu·ous·ness •n. [ME < Anglo-Fr < L tortuosus < tortus: see TORT]

torture (tör´chэr) •n. 1 the inflicting of severe pain to force information or confession, get revenge, etc. 2 any method by which such pain is inflicted 3 any severe physical or mental pain; agony; anguish 4 a cause of such pain or agony 5 [Rare] a violent twisting, distortion, perversion, etc. •vt. -tured, -tur·ing 1 to subject to torture 2 to cause extreme physical or mental pain to; agonize 3 to twist or distort (meaning, language, etc.) tor´tur·er •n. tor´tur·ous •adj. tor´tur·ous·ly •adv. [Fr < LL tortura, a twisting, torture < pp. of L torquere, to twist: see TORT]

torula (tör´u lэ) pl. -lae' (-li:') •n.or -las any of a group of yeastlike fungi that reproduce by budding: some cause animal disease, others ferment food [ModL < L torus, a bulge + -ula, -ULE]

Toruń (tou´ru:n'; Pol tô´ru:n yэ) city in NC Poland, on the Vistula: pop. 183,000

torus (tou´rэs, tör´эs) pl. -ri' (-rai', -ai) •n. 1 Anat. any rounded projection or swelling 2 Archit. a large, convex molding used at the base of columns, etc., just above the plinth 3 Bot. a) RECEPTACLE (sense 3a) b) a thick spot at the center of the pit membrane in bordered pits of xylem cells 4 Geom. a surface, or its enclosed solid, generated by the revolution of a conic about any line that is external to the conic but in the same plane, as a doughnut-shaped figure that is generated by a circle or an ellipse [L, a bulge, muscle]

Tory (tör´i:) pl. -ries •n. 1 [sometimes t-] a) in the 17th cent., any of the dispossessed Irish who became outlaws, killed English settlers and soldiers, and lived by plundering b) later, an armed Irish Catholic or Royalist 2 in 1679-1680, a person who opposed the exclusion of James, Duke of York, from succession to the English throne 3 after 1689, a member of one of the two major political parties of England: opposed to Whig, and later, to Liberal, Radical, Laborite; changed officially c. 1830 to Conservative 4 in the American Revolution, a person who advocated or actively supported continued allegiance to Great Britain 5 [often t-] any extreme conservative; reactionary •adj. [also t-] of, being, or having the conservative principles of a Tory To´ry·ism' •n. [Ir tōruidhe, robber, pursuer < tōir, to pursue; akin to Gael tōir, pursuit]

Toscana (tös kä´nэ; It tôs kä´nä) It. name of TUSCANY

Toscanini (täs'kэ ni:´ni:; It tôs'kä ni:´ni:), Ar·tu·ro (är tur´ou; It äř tu:´řô) 1867-1957; It. orchestral conductor, esp. in the U.S.

tosh (täsh) •n., interj. [Colloq., Chiefly Brit.] nonsense [< ?]

toss (tös, täs) •vt. 1 to throw or pitch about; fling here and there; buffet {a boat tossed by a storm} Æ 2 to mix lightly the parts or ingredients of (esp. a salad) 3 to disturb; agitate; disquiet 4 to throw (in various senses); specif., to throw upward, lightly and easily, from the hand 5 to throw in or bandy (ideas, remarks, etc.) 6 to lift quickly; jerk upward {tossing her head in disdain} 7 to TOSS UP with (someone for something): see phrase below •vi. 1 to be flung to and fro; be thrown about or pitched about 2 to fling oneself about in sleep, etc.; be restless in bed 3 to move or go impatiently, angrily, or disdainfully, as with a toss of the head 4 to TOSS UP: see phrase below •n. 1 a tossing or being tossed; a throw, fling, pitch, etc. 2 short for TOSSUP (sense 1) 3 the distance that something is or can be tossed SYN. THROW toss off 1 to make, do, write, etc. quickly, casually, and without effort 2 to drink up in one draft toss up to toss a coin for deciding something according to which side lands uppermost toss´er •n. [prob. < Scand, as in Norw dial. tossa, to spread, strew; akin to MLowG tōsen, to tear, ME (to)tusen, to pull to pieces < IE base *dā(i)-, to part, tear > TEASE]

tosspot (tös´pät') •n. a drunkard [prec. + POT¹]

tossup (tös´ ûp') •n. 1 the act of tossing or flipping a coin to decide something according to which side lands uppermost 2 an even chance

tost (töst) •vt., vi. archaic pt. & pp. of TOSS

tostada (tous tä´dэ) •n. Æ a tortilla fried until crisp Also tos·ta´do (-dou), pl. -dos [AmSp, orig. fem. of tostado, fried < Sp, toasted, pp. of tostar, to toast, roast < VL *tostare, to TOAST¹]

tot abbrev. total

tot¹ (tät) •n. 1 a young child 2 [Chiefly Brit., etc.] a small drink of alcoholic liquor [prob. < Scand, as in ON tuttr, small chap, tutta, little girl]

tot² (tät) tot´ted, tot´ting •vt., vi. [Colloq., Chiefly Brit., etc.] to add; total Usually with up [contr. < TOTAL]

total (tout´ªl) •adj. 1 constituting the (or a) whole; entire; whole 2 complete; utter {a total loss} •n. the whole amount or number; sum; aggregate •vt. -taled or -talled, -tal·ing or -tal·ling 1 to find the total of; add 2 to equal a total of; add up to Æ 3 [Slang] to wreck completely; demolish •vi. to amount (to) as a whole SYN. COMPLETE, SUM [ME < MFr < ML totalis < L totus, all, whole < IE base *tēu-, to swell > THUMB]

total depravity in Calvinism, the utter depravity of humankind due to original sin and persisting until regeneration through the Spirit of God

total recall the ability of a person to recall the past accurately in seemingly complete detail

totalisator (tout´ªl i zeit'эr) •n. alt. sp. of TOTALIZATOR

totalistic (tout'ªl is´tik) •adj. TOTALITARIAN: also to´tal·ist to´tal·ism' •n.

totalitarian (tou tæl'э ter´i: эn, tou'tæl'э-) •adj. 1 designating, of, or characteristic of a government or state in which one political party or group maintains complete control under a dictatorship and bans all others 2 completely authoritarian, autocratic, dictatorial, etc. •n. a person who favors such a government or state to·tal'i·tar´i·an·ism' •n. [TOTAL + (AUTHOR)ITARIAN]

totality (tou tæl´э ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 the fact or condition of being total; entirety 2 the time of complete shadow or coverage during an eclipse 3 the total amount or sum in totality as a whole; altogether

totalizator (tout´ªl i zeit'эr) •n. any machine for computing and showing totals of measurements, etc.; esp., a machine used in parimutuel betting for registering bets and, usually, computing the odds and payoffs while the bets are being placed [Fr totalisateur]

totalize (tout´ªl aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to make a total of; combine into a total to'tal·i·za´tion •n.

totalizer (-ai'zэr) •n. a person or thing that totals; specif., TOTALIZATOR

totally (tout´ªl i:) •adv. wholly; completely; altogether

totaquine (tou´tэ kwi:n', -kwin; -ki:n', -kin) •n. a yellowish-white to gray powder containing a mixture of quinine and other alkaloids, obtained from cinchona bark and used as an antimalarial [< ModL totaquina < LL totalis, TOTAL + Sp quina, cinchona bark (see QUININE): because it contains all the alkaloids of cinchona bark]

tote bag Æ a large, open handbag of cloth, straw, etc., used to carry small items

tote board [Colloq.] a large board facing the grandstand at a racetrack, on which the bets, odds, and payoffs recorded by a totalizator are flashed

tote¹ (tout) tot´ed, tot´ing •vt. [Colloq.] 1 to carry or haul, esp. in the arms or on the back 2 to be armed with (a gun, etc.) •n. 1 [Colloq.] a) the act of toting b) something toted; load; haul 2 a) short for TOTE BAG b) a small piece of baggage, usually of cloth, with handles and a shoulder strap tot´er •n. [prob. of Afr orig., as in Kongo tota, to pick up]

tote² (tout) tot´ed, tot´ing •vt. short for TOTAL: usually with up

tote³ (tout) •n. short for TOTALIZATOR

totem (tout´эm) •n. 1 among some peoples, an animal or natural object considered as being ancestrally related to a given kin or descent group and taken as its symbol 2 an image of this 3 a symbol, esp. one held in high regard to·tem·ic (tou tem´ik) •adj. [< an Algonquian language: cf. Ojibwa nindoodeem, my totem]

totem pole 1 a pole or post carved and painted with totems, often erected in front of their dwellings by Indian tribes of the NW coast of North America 2 a hierarchical system {at the top of the educational totem pole}

totemism (tout´эm iz'эm) •n. 1 belief in totems and totemic relationships 2 the use of totems to distinguish kin or descent groups 3 social customs based on this to´tem·ist •n. to'tem·is´tic •adj.

tother, t'other, or 'tother (tûð´эr) •adj., pron. [Chiefly Dial.] that (or the) other [ME the tother, by faulty division of thet other, that other]

toti- (tout´i) combining form whole or wholly; entire or entirely {totipalmate} [< L totus, whole: see TOTAL]

totipalmate (tout'i pæl´meit', -mit) •adj. having all four toes completely united by a web, as ducks, geese, or pelicans to'ti·pal·ma´tion •n. [prec. + PALMATE]

totipotent (tou tip´э tэnt) •adj. capable of developing into a complete embryo or organ: said of a cleavage cell to·tip´o·ten·cy (-tэn si:) •n. [TOTI- + POTENT]

Tottenham (tät´ªn эm) city in Middlesex, SE England: suburb of London: pop. 113,000

totter (tät´эr) •vi. 1 a) to rock or shake as if about to fall; be unsteady b) to be on the point of failure or collapse 2 to be unsteady on one's feet; stagger •n. an unsteady walk or movement tot´ter·ing •adj. tot´ter·ing·ly •adv. tot´ter·y •adj. [ME toteren, prob. < Scand, as in Norw dial. totra, to quiver, shake]

toucan (tu:´kæn', -kän', -kэn; tu: kæn´, -kän´) •n. any of a family (Ramphastidae) of brightly colored, fruit-eating piciform birds of tropical America, distinguished by a very large beak [Fr < Port tucano < Tupi tucana: echoic of its cry]

touch (tûch) •vt. 1 to put the hand, finger, or some other part of the body on, so as to feel; perceive by the sense of feeling 2 to bring into contact with something else {to touch a match to kindling, to touch the ceiling with a stick} 3 [Historical] to lay the hand on (a person with scrofula), as some kings once did, supposedly to effect a cure 4 to be or come into contact with 5 to border on; adjoin 6 to strike lightly 7 to be effective on contact; have a physical effect on: usually used in the negative {water won't touch these grease spots} 8 to injure slightly {frost touched the plants} 9 to give a light tint, aspect, etc. to: used chiefly in the past participle {clouds touched with pink} 10 to stop at (a port, etc.) in passing: said of a ship 11 to lay hands on; handle; use 12 to manhandle or molest 13 to taste or partake of: usually used in the negative {didn't touch his supper} 14 to come up to; reach; attain 15 to compare with; equal; rival: usually used in the negative {cooking that can't touch hers} 16 to take or make use of without permission or wrongly; misappropriate 17 to deal with or refer to, esp. in a light or passing way; mention 18 to have to do with; affect; concern {a subject that touches our welfare} 19 to arouse an emotion in, esp. one of sympathy, gratitude, etc. 20 to hurt the feelings of; pain {touched him to the quick} 21 [Slang] to ask for, or get by asking, a loan or gift of money from 22 [Archaic] a) to strike the keys of, pluck the strings of, etc. (a musical instrument) b) to play (a few notes, an air, etc.) 23 Geom. to be tangent to •vi. 1 to touch a person or thing 2 to be or come in contact 3 to come near to something; verge (on or upon) 4 to pertain; bear (on or upon) 5 to treat a topic slightly or in passing: with on or upon 6 to stop briefly or land (at a port, etc.) during a voyage 7 Geom. to be tangent •n. 1 a touching or being touched; specif., a) a light tap, stroke, etc. b) a delicate stroke made with a brush in painting, etc. 2 the sense by which physical objects are felt; tactile sense 3 a sensation caused by touching, esp. one characteristic of a particular substance or texture; tactile quality; feel 4 a mental capacity analogous to the sense of touch; mental or moral sensitivity 5 a special or characteristic quality, skill, or manner {he lost his touch} 6 an effect of being touched; specif., a) a mark, impression, etc. left by touching b) a subtle change or addition in a painting, story, or other work 7 a very small amount, degree, etc.; specif., a) a trace, tinge, etc. {a touch of humor} b) a slight attack {a touch of the flu} 8 any test or criterion 9 contact or communication {to lose touch with reality, to keep in touch with friends} 10 [Slang] a) the act of asking for, or getting in this way, a loan or gift of money {to make a touch} b) money so gotten c) a person with reference to the ease with which money can be so gotten from him 11 Music a) the manner in which a performer strikes the keys of a keyboard instrument {a delicate touch} b) the manner in which the action of a piano, etc. responds to the fingers {a piano with a heavy touch} c) in bell ringing, a set of changes less than a peal 12 Rugby, Soccer the part of the field outside the sidelines SYN. AFFECT¹ touch down to land Said of an aircraft or spacecraft touch off 1 to represent accurately or aptly 2 to make explode or detonate; fire 3 to motivate or initiate (esp. a violent action or reaction) touch up 1 to stimulate or rouse, as by a tap or light blow 2 to improve or finish (a painting, literary work, etc.) by minor changes or additions touch'a·bil´i·ty •n. touch´a·ble •adj. touch´er •n. [ME touchen < OFr tochier (Fr toucher) < VL *toccare < *tok, light blow, of echoic orig.]

touch football an informal variety of football in which a defensive player stops a play by touching the ball carrier (usually with both hands) rather than by tackling

touch system a method of typing without looking at the keyboard, by regularly touching a given key with a specific finger

touch-and-go (tûch´эn gou') •adj. uncertain, risky, or precarious

touchback (tûch´bæk') •n. Football a play in which a player grounds the ball behind the player's own goal line when the ball was caused to pass the goal line by an opponent: distinguished from SAFETY

touchdown (-daun') •n. 1 a) the act of touching down, or landing b) the moment at which a landing aircraft or spacecraft touches the landing surface 2 Football a) a scoring play in which a player carries, catches, or recovers the ball past the opponent's goal line b) a score of six points so made

touché (tu: shei´) •interj. Fencing touched: said when one opponent scores a point by a touch: also used to acknowledge a successful point in debate or a witty retort [Fr, pp.: see TOUCH]

touched (tûcht) •adj. 1 emotionally affected; moved 2 slightly demented or unbalanced: also touched in the head

touchhole (tûch´houl') •n. in early firearms, the hole in the breech through which the charge was touched off

touching (tûch´iŋ) •adj. that touches the feelings; arousing tender emotion; affecting •prep. concerning; with regard to SYN. MOVING touch´ing·ly •adv.

touchline (tûch´lain') •n. Rugby, Soccer either of the sidelines bounding the field

touch-me-not (tûch´mi: nät') •n. JEWELWEED

touchstone (tûch´stoun') •n. 1 a type of black stone formerly used to test the purity of gold or silver by the streak left on it when it was rubbed with the metal 2 any test of genuineness or value

touch-tone (tûch´toun') •adj. designating or of a type of telephone that may be used with a service (touch tone) that responds to individual fixed electronic tones activated by corresponding buttons pushed in placing a call [< Touch Tone, a former trademark]

touch-type (tûch´taip') -typed', -typ'ing •vi. to type by means of the touch system touch´-typ'ist •n.

touchwood (tûch´wud') •n. dried, decayed wood or dried fungus used as tinder [? altered (infl. by TOUCH) < ME tache, touchwood]

touchy (tûch´i:) touch´i·er, touch´i·est •adj. 1 easily offended; oversensitive; irritable 2 sensitive to touch; easily irritated, as a part of the body 3 very risky {a touchy situation} 4 highly flammable or readily ignited SYN. IRRITABLE touch´i·ly •adv. touch´i·ness •n. [TOUCH + -Y²: also (sense 1) altered < TECHY]

tough (tûf) •adj. 1 strong but pliant; that will bend, twist, etc. without tearing or breaking 2 that will not cut or chew easily {tough steak} 3 strongly cohesive; glutinous; viscous; sticky {tough putty} 4 a) strong of physique; robust; hardy b) displaying mental or moral firmness 5 hard to convince or influence; stubborn 6 practical and realistic rather than emotional or sentimental 7 overly aggressive; brutal or rough 8 a) very difficult; toilsome b) vigorous or violent {a tough fight} 9 [Colloq.] unfavorable; bad {a tough break} Æ 10 [Slang] fine; excellent: a generalized term of approval Æ n. a tough person; thug Æ tough it out [Slang] to remain firm in the face of difficulty, often, specif., in a brazen or defiant way tough´ly •adv. tough´ness •n. [ME < OE toh, akin to Ger zäh, tough, viscous, prob. < IE base *denk-, to bite > TONGS]

toughen (tûf´эn) •vt., vi. to make or become tough or tougher tough´en·er •n.

toughie or toughy (tûf´i:) pl. -ies •n. [Colloq.] 1 a tough person; ruffian 2 a difficult problem or situation

tough-minded (tûf´main'did) •adj. shrewd and unsentimental; practical; realistic tough´-mind'ed·ness •n.

toujours (tu: zhu:ř´) •adv. always; continually; forever [Fr]

Toulon (tu: louñ´; E also tu: loun´, -län´) seaport in SE France, on the Mediterranean: pop. 182,000

Toulouse (tu: lu:z´) city in S France, on the Garonne river: pop. 354,000

Toulouse-Lautrec (tu: lu:z´lou trek´), Hen·ri (Marie Raymond) de (äñ ři:´ dэ) 1864-1901; Fr. painter & lithographer

toupee (tu: pei´) •n. 1 [Historical] a curl or lock of hair worn on top of the head, sometimes as part of a wig 2 a man's wig, esp. a small one for covering a bald spot [Fr toupet, dim. of OFr toup, top, tuft of hair < Frank *top: see TOP¹]

tour (tur) •n. 1 a turn or shift of work; esp., a period of duty or military service at a single place: in full tour of duty 2 a long trip, as for sightseeing 3 any trip, as for inspection; round; circuit; specif., a trip, as by a theatrical company or speaker, to give performances, lectures, etc. at a number of cities •vi. to go on a tour •vt. 1 to take a tour through 2 to take (a play, theatrical company, etc.) on a tour on tour touring, as to give performances, lectures, etc. [ME < MFr
tour de force (tur' dэ förs´) pl. tours de force (tur') an unusually skillful or ingenious creation, production, or performance, sometimes one that is merely clever or spectacular [Fr, lit., feat of strength]

tour d'horizon (tu:ř dô ři: zouñ´) a brief but comprehensive review [Fr, lit., tour of the horizon]

tour en l'air (tu: řäñ leř´) pl. tours en l'air Ballet a turn executed in the air [Fr]

touraco (tu:´rэ kou', tu:'rэ kou´) pl. -cos' •n. any of a family (Musophagidae, order Cuculiformes) of brightly colored, tropical forest birds of Africa, with a short, stout bill, long tail, and erectile crest [prob. via Fr < WAfr native name]

Touraine (tu: rein´, tu-; Fr tu: řen´) historical region of WC France: chief city, Tours

tourbillion (tur bil´yэn) •n. 1 orig., a whirlwind 2 a fireworks device that rises with a spiral motion [LME turbilloun < MFr tourbillon, whirlwind, altered < VL *turbinio < L turbo: see TURBINE]

Tourcoing (tu:ř kwæñ´) city in N France, near the Belgian border: pop. 97,000

Touré (tu: rei´), Sé·kou (sei ku:´) 1922-84; president of Guinea (1958-84)

Tourette's syndrome (tu rets´) a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscular movements, obscene vocal expressions, etc.: in full Gilles de la Tourette syndrome [after G. de la Tourette (1857-1904), Fr neurologist who first described it]

touring car an early type of open automobile, often with a folding top, seating five or more passengers

tourism (tur´iz'эm) •n. tourist travel, esp. when regarded as a source of income for a country, business, etc. tour·is´tic •adj.

tourist (tur´ist) •n. 1 a person who makes a tour, esp. for pleasure 2 tourist class •adj. 1 of or for tourists 2 designating or of the lowest-priced accommodations, as on a ship •adv. in or by means of tourist class

tourist court MOTEL

tourist home a private home in which bedrooms are rented to tourists or travelers

tourist trap a place that habitually overcharges tourists

touristy (tur´ist i:) •adj. of or for tourists: often used with mild contempt to suggest banality or tastelessness

tourmaline (tur´mэ lin, -li:n') •n. a crystalline mineral that is a complex silicate of boron and aluminum, with some magnesium, iron, etc.: it occurs in a common black variety and in colored and transparent varieties used as gemstones and in optical equipment [Fr, ult. < Sinhalese tōramalli, carnelian]

Tournai (tu:r ne´) city in W Belgium: pop. 67,000

tournament (tør´nэ mэnt, tur´-) •n. 1 in the Middle Ages, a) a sport consisting of an encounter between knights on horseback, in which the opponents tried to unseat one another with lances, the winner receiving a prize; jousting contest b) a series of such encounters presented as an entertainment 2 a series of contests in some sport or game, as basketball or chess, in which a number of people or teams take part, trying to win the championship [ME tournement < OFr torneiement < torneier: see TOURNEY]

tournedos (tu:ř nэ dou´) pl. -dos´ (-dou´) •n. a small, round beefsteak cut from the tenderloin, often with a strip of bacon, suet, etc. tied around it [Fr < tourner, to TURN + dos: see DOSS]

tourney (tør´ni:, tur´-) pl. -neys •n. TOURNAMENT •vi. to take part in a tournament; joust [ME tourneien < OFr torneier] [ME turnai < OFr tornei < torneier < base of tourner: see TURN]

tourniquet (tør´ni kit, -ket'; tur´-) •n. any device for compressing a blood vessel to stop bleeding or control the circulation of blood to some part, as a bandage twisted about a limb and released at intervals or a pad pressed down by a screw [Fr, altered in sense and form (infl. by tourner, to TURN) < MFr turniquet, earlier turniquel, coat of mail, upper garment < OFr tunicle < L tunicula, dim. of tunica, TUNIC]

Tours (tur; Fr tu:ř) city in WC France, on the Loire: site of a battle (A.D. 732) in which the Franks under Charles Martel defeated the Saracens: pop. 136,000

tousle (tau´zэl) -sled, -sling •vt. to disorder, dishevel, muss, rumple, etc. •n. a tousled condition, mass of hair, etc. [freq. of ME tusen (in comp.), to pull to pieces, tear, prob. akin to OE tæsan: see TEASE]

Toussaint L'Ouverture (tu: sæñ lu: veř tüř´) (born Pierre François Dominique Toussaint) c. 1743-1803; Haitian liberator & general

tout (taut) •vi. 1 to solicit customers, patrons, votes, etc. 2 a) esp. in England, to spy on racehorses in training, etc. in order to secure tips for betting b) to provide betting tips on horse races •vt. [Colloq.] 1 to praise or recommend highly; puff 2 to solicit or importune, as for business 3 a) to spy out or otherwise get information on (racehorses) Æ b) to give a tip on (a racehorse) for a price •n. [Colloq.] a person who touts; esp., a person who makes a business of selling tips on racehorses tout´er •n. [ME toten < OE totian, to peep, look out after]

tout à fait (tu: tå fe´) entirely; quite [Fr, lit., all done]

tout court (tu: ku:ř´) without further explanation or qualification; simply or bluntly [Fr, lit., wholly short]

tout de suite (tu:t süi:t´) immediately [Fr, lit., all in succession]

tout ensemble (tu: täñ säñ´blª) 1 everything considered; all in all 2 the general effect; total impression, as of a work of art [Fr, lit., all (taken) together]

tout le monde (tu: lэ mouñd´) everyone [Fr, lit., all the world]

touzle (tau´zэl) -zled, -zling •n., vt. alt. sp. of TOUSLE

tovarish or tovarich (tou vär´ish; Russ tô väř´ishch) •n. COMRADE [Russ tovarishch, orig., tradesman or trading partner < tovar, wares for trading]

tow truck a truck equipped for towing away vehicles that are disabled, illegally parked, etc.

tow¹ (tou) •vt. 1 to pull by a rope or chain 2 to pull or drag behind •n. 1 a towing or being towed 2 something towed 3 TOWLINE SYN. PULL in tow 1 being towed 2 in one's company or retinue 3 under one's control or charge [ME towen < OE togian < IE base *deuk-, to pull > DUCT]

tow² (tou) •n. the coarse and broken fibers of hemp, flax, etc. before spinning •adj. of or resembling tow [ME < OE tow-, for spinning, akin to tawian: see TAW²]

towage (tou´ij) •n. 1 a towing or being towed 2 the charge for this [ME]

toward (for prep. törd; tourd, tou´эrd; twörd; tu wörd´, tэ-; for adj. tou´эrd, törd) •prep. 1 in the direction of 2 so as to face; facing 3 in a manner designed to achieve or along a course likely to result in {steps toward peace} 4 concerning; regarding; about {a negative attitude toward abstract art} 5 close to or just before (in time) {toward daybreak} 6 in anticipation of; in order to get; for {saving toward a new car} 7 so as to help for {to contribute toward a new library} •adj. [Now Rare] 1 favorable; propitious 2 ready to learn; promising 3 docile; compliant 4 at hand; imminent 5 being done; in progress: used predicatively [ME < OE toweard: see TO & -WARD]

towardly (tou´эrd li:, törd´li:) •adj. [Now Rare] 1 favorable, propitious, or promising 2 tractable; docile 3 friendly; affable [prec. + -LY¹]

towards (tördz; tourdz, tou´эrdz; twördz; tu wördz´, tэ-) •prep. TOWARD [ME towardes < OE toweardes < toweard + adv. gen. (-e)s]

towboat (tou´bout') •n. 1 TUGBOAT Æ 2 a boat used for pushing a barge or group of barges in inland waters

towel (tau´эl) •n. a piece of absorbent cloth or paper for wiping or drying things, or for drying oneself after washing or bathing {a dish towel, a bath towel} •vt. -eled or -elled, -el·ing or -el·ling to wipe or dry with a towel throw (or toss, etc.) in the towel [Colloq.] to admit defeat towel off to dry oneself, as after bathing [ME towaille < OFr toaille (Fr touaille) < Frank *thwahlja, akin to OHG dwahila, towel < dwahan, to wash < IE base *twak-, to bathe > OProv twaxtan, bath towel]

towelette (tau'эl et´, tau let´) •n. a small, moist, disposable paper tissue for cleansing the hands, face, etc. [prec. + -ETTE]

toweling or towelling (tau´эl iŋ, tau´liŋ) •n. material for making towels

Tower Hamlets borough of E Greater London: pop. 145,000

Tower of London a fortress made up of several buildings on the Thames in London, serving in historic times as a palace, prison, etc.

tower¹ (tau´эr) •n. 1 a building or structure that is relatively high for its length and width, either standing alone or forming part of another building 2 such a structure used as a fortress or prison 3 a person or thing that resembles a tower in height, strength, dominance, etc. •vi. to rise high or stand high like a tower [ME tour, tur < OE torr & OFr tur, both < L turris, a tower; akin to Gr tyrsis, fortified city]

tower² (tou´эr) •n. a person or thing that tows

towered (tau´эrd) •adj. having a tower or towers

towering (tau´эr iŋ) •adj. 1 that towers; very high or tall 2 very great, intense, violent, etc. {a towering rage}

towery (tau´эr i:) •adj. 1 having towers; towered 2 towering; high; lofty

towhead (tou´hed') •n. 1 a head of pale-yellow hair 2 a person having such hair tow´head'ed •adj. [see TOW²]

towhee (tou´hi:', tou´i:) •n. any of several large, ground-feeding, North American sparrows (family Emberizidae); esp., the rufous-sided towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) with a chestnut patch on each flank and, usually, red irises [echoic of one of its calls]

towline (tou´lain') •n. a rope, chain, etc. used for towing

town (taun) •n. 1 [Brit. Dial.] a group of houses; hamlet 2 a more or less concentrated group of houses and private and public buildings, larger than a village but smaller than a city 3 a city or other thickly populated urban place Æ 4 a) in parts of the U.S., TOWNSHIP (sense 2) b) in New England and some other States, a unit of local government having its sovereignty vested chiefly in a town meeting 5 in England, a village that holds a market periodically 6 the business center of a city {to go into town} 7 the inhabitants, voters, etc. of a town 8 the local residents of a town as distinct from the members of a college within the town: cf. GOWN •adj. of, in, for, or characteristic of a town go to town [Slang] 1 to go on a spree; indulge in something without restraint 2 to work or act fast and efficiently Æ 3 to be eminently successful Æ on the town [Colloq.] out for a good time at the theater, nightclubs, bars, etc. [ME < OE tun, enclosed space, group of houses, village, town; akin to Ger zaun, fence, hedge, OIr dūn, fortified camp]

town clerk an official in charge of the records, legal business, etc. of a town

town crier a person who formerly cried public announcements through the streets of a village or town

town hall a building in a town, containing the offices of public officials, the council chamber, etc.

town house 1 a city residence, esp. as distinguished from a country residence of the same owner Æ 2 a dwelling, typically two-story or three-story, that is one of a planned complex of such, often contiguous, dwellings: also town´house' or town´home' •n.

town meeting 1 a meeting of the people of a town 2 esp. in New England, a meeting of the qualified voters of a town to act upon town business

townie (taun´i:) •n. [Colloq.] a resident of a town, esp. one of college age, who is not a student at the local college

townscape (taun´skeip') •n. a picture or view of a town or a part of a town

townsfolk (taunz´fouk') •n.pl. TOWNSPEOPLE

township (taun´ship) •n. 1 orig., in England, a parish or division of a parish, as a unit of territory and administration 2 in parts of the U.S. and Canada, a division of a county, constituting a unit of local government with administrative control of local schools, roads, etc. 3 in New England, TOWN (sense 4b) 4 a unit of territory in the U.S. land survey, generally six miles square, containing 36 mile-square sections, and sometimes, but not necessarily, coextensive with a governmental township [ME tunscipe < OE, people living in a tun: see TOWN & -SHIP]

townsman (taunz´mэn) pl. -men •n. 1 a person who lives in, or has been reared in, a town 2 a fellow resident of the town in which one lives [ME tunesman < OE < gen. of tun, TOWN + man, MAN]

townspeople (taunz´pi:'pэl) •n.pl. 1 the people of a town 2 people brought up in a town or city, as distinguished from those brought up in the country

Townsville (taunz´vil') seaport on the E coast of Queensland, Australia: pop. 104,000

towpath (tou´pæθ') •n. a path alongside a canal, used by men or animals towing canalboats

towrope (tou´roup') •n. a rope used in towing

Towson (tau´sэn) town in central Maryland, near Baltimore: pop. 49,000 [after the Towson family, early settlers]

toxalbumin (täks'æl byu:´min) •n. a poisonous protein found in certain plants and cultures of bacteria, and in snake venoms [TOX(IC) + ALBUMIN]

toxaphene (täks´э fi:n') •n. a commercial insecticide, approximately C10H10Cl8, made by chlorinating camphene: use is now restricted as it may be a carcinogen [arbitrary blend < TOXIC + (CAM)PHENE]

toxemia (täks i:´mi: э) •n. a condition in which poisonous substances are spread throughout the body by the bloodstream, esp. toxins produced by pathogenic bacteria or by cells of the body: also sp. tox·ae´mi·a tox·e´mic (-mik) •adj. [ModL: see TOXIC & -EMIA]

toxic (täks´ik) •adj. 1 of, affected by, or caused by a toxin, or poison 2 acting as a poison; poisonous tox·ic´i·ty (-is´э ti:) •n. [ML toxicus < L toxicum, a poison < Gr toxicon, a poison, orig., poison in which arrows were dipped < toxicos, of or for a bow < toxon, a bow]

toxicant (täks´i kэnt) •adj. poisonous; toxic •n. a poison; toxic agent [LL toxicans, prp. of toxicare, to smear with poison < L toxicum: see TOXIC]

toxico- (täks´i kou', -kэ) combining form poison {toxicogenic} Also, before a vowel, tox´ic- [ModL < Gr toxikon: see TOXIC]

toxicogenic (täks'i kou jen´ik) •adj. producing toxic substances [prec. + -GENIC]

toxicology (täks'i käl´э ji:) •n. the science dealing with poisons and their effects and with antidotes for poisons tox'i·co·log´ic (-kou läj´ik) or tox'i·co·log´i·cal •adj. tox'i·co·log´i·cal·ly •adv. tox'i·col´o·gist •n. [Fr toxicologie: see TOXIC & -LOGY]

toxicosis (täks'i kou´sis) •n. any diseased condition caused by poisoning [ModL: see TOXIC & -OSIS]

toxic-shock syndrome (täks´ik shäk´) a disease, esp. of young menstruating women using highly absorbent tampons, characterized by fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and, often, shock: thought to be caused by a bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus) that releases toxins

toxin (täks´in) •n. 1 any of various poisonous compounds produced by some microorganisms and causing certain diseases: see ENDOTOXIN, EXOTOXIN 2 any of various similar poisons, related to proteins, formed in certain plants, as ricin, or secreted by certain animals, as snake venom: toxins, when injected into animals or humans, typically initiate the formation of antitoxins [TOX(IC) + -IN¹]

toxin-antitoxin (täks' in æn´ti täks'in) •n. a mixture of toxin and antitoxin formerly used for producing active immunity against a specific disease, esp. diphtheria: now superseded by toxoids

toxoid (täks´oid') •n. a toxin that has been treated, as with chemicals or heat, so as to eliminate the toxic qualities while retaining the antigenic properties [TOX(IN) + -OID]

toxophilite (täks äf´э lait') •n. a person who is especially fond of archery tox·oph'i·lit´ic (-lit´ik) •adj. tox·oph´i·ly (-li:) •n. [< Toxophilus, title of a book (1545) by Roger ASCHAM < Gr toxon, a bow + philos, loving + -ITE¹]

toxoplasmosis (täks'ou plæz mou´sis) •n. a disease caused by a protozoan (Toxoplasma gondii), affecting humans and animals, esp. in the tropics: in its congenital form, it damages the central nervous system, eyes, and viscera [ModL: see TOXIC, -PLASM, & -OSIS]

toy (toi) •n. 1 orig., a) amorous behavior; flirtation b) pastime; sport 2 a thing of little value or importance; trifle 3 a little ornament; bauble; trinket 4 any article to play with, esp. a plaything for children 5 any small thing, person, or animal; specif., a dog of a small breed, esp. one of the toy breeds •adj. 1 like a toy, or plaything, in size, use, etc.; specif., designating a breed of dog of a small kind kept as a pet or companion {a toy poodle} 2 made as a toy; esp., being a miniature imitation {a toy stove} •vi. 1 to play or trifle (with a thing, an idea, etc.) 2 to engage in flirtation; dally SYN. TRIFLE toy´er •n. toy´like' •adj. [ME toye in sense 1 (< ?); other senses < ? MDu toi, finery, ornament; akin to Ger zeug, ON tygi, stuff, gear, prob. akin to TUG]

Toyama (tou yä´mэ) seaport on the N coast of central Honshu, Japan: pop. 309,000

Toynbee (toin´bi:), Arnold J(oseph) 1889-1975; Eng. historian

Toyohashi (tou'you hä´shi:) seaport on the S coast of Honshu, Japan: pop. 315,000

toyon (tou´yэn) •n. a large evergreen shrub or tree (Heteromeles arbutifolia) of the rose family, with clusters of white flowers and bright-red berries: it is native to California [AmSp, also tollon, prob. < Nahuatl name]

Toyonaka (tou'you nä´kэ) city in S Honshu, Japan, near Osaka: pop. 398,000

Toyota (tou yout´э, toi out´э) city in S Honshu, Japan, near Nagoya: pop. 294,000

toyshop (toi´shäp') •n. a shop where toys are sold

Tp township

tpk or tpke turnpike

tr 1 trace 2 transitive 3 translated 4 translation 5 translator 6 transpose 7 treasurer 8 trustee

tra- (træ, trэ) prefix TRANS-: used before d, j, l, m, n, or v {tramontane}

trabeated (trei´bi: eit'id) •adj. 1 built with horizontal beams or lintels, instead of arches 2 of such construction tra'be·a´tion (-ei´shэn) •n. [< L trabs, pl. trabes, a beam: see TAVERN]

trabecula (trэ bek´yu: lэ) pl. -lae' (-li:') or -las •n. 1 Anat., Zool. a) a small rod, bar, or bundle of fibers b) a small septum of fibers forming, with others of its kind, an essential part of the framework of an organ or part 2 Bot. a rodlike structure, plate, or bar of tissue, as any of the crossbars in the peristome teeth of mosses tra·bec´u·lar (-lэr) or tra·bec´u·late (-lit, -leit') •adj. [ModL < L, dim. of trabs: see TRABEATED]

Trabzon (træb zän´, træb´zän') Turk. name of TREBIZOND

trace element 1 a chemical element, as iron, copper, zinc, etc., essential in plant and animal nutrition, but only in minute quantities 2 any element present in minute quantities in an organism, soil, water, etc.

trace¹ (treis) •n. 1 orig., a way followed or path taken 2 a mark, footprint, etc. left by the passage of a person, animal, or thing Æ 3 a beaten path or trail left by the repeated passage of persons, vehicles, etc. 4 any perceptible mark left by a past person, thing, or event; sign; evidence; vestige {the traces of war} 5 a barely perceptible amount; very small quantity {a trace of anger} 6 something drawn or traced, as a mark, sketch, etc. 7 the traced record of a recording instrument 8 a) the visible line or spot that moves across the face of a cathode-ray tube b) the path followed by this line or spot 9 Chem. a very small amount, usually one quantitatively immeasurable 10 Math. a) the intersection of a line or of a projecting plane of the line with the coordinate plane b) the sum of the elements on the main diagonal of a matrix 11 Meteorol. precipitation amounting to less than 0.127 mm (0.005 in.) 12 Psychol. ENGRAM •vt. traced, trac´ing [ME tracen < OFr tracier: see the n.] 1 [Now Rare] to move along, follow, or traverse (a path, route, etc.) 2 to follow the trail or footprints of; track 3 a) to follow the development, process, or history of, esp. by proceeding from the latest to the earliest evidence, etc. b) to determine (a source, date, etc.) by this procedure 4 to discover or ascertain by investigating traces or vestiges of (something prehistoric, etc.) 5 to draw, sketch, outline, etc. 6 to ornament with tracery: used chiefly in the past participle 7 to copy (a drawing, etc.) by following its lines on a superimposed, transparent sheet 8 to form (letters, etc.) carefully or laboriously 9 to make or copy with a tracer 10 to record by means of a curved, broken, or wavy line, as in a seismograph •vi. 1 to follow a path, route, development, etc.; make one's way 2 to go back or date back (to something past) trace'a·bil´i·ty or trace´a·ble·ness •n. trace´a·ble •adj. trace´a·bly •adv. [ME < OFr < tracier < VL *tractiare < L tractus, a drawing along, track < pp. of trahere, to DRAW]

trace² (treis) •n. 1 either of two straps, chains, etc. connecting a draft animal's harness to the vehicle drawn: see HARNESS, illus. 2 a rod, pivoted at each end, that transmits motion from one moving part of a machine to another kick over the traces to shake off control; show insubordination or independence [ME traice < OFr traiz, pl. of trait: see TRAIT]

tracer (treis´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that traces; specif., a) a person whose work is tracing drawings, designs, etc. on transparent paper b) a person whose work is tracing lost or missing articles, persons, etc. c) an instrument for tracing designs on cloth, etc. Æ 2 an inquiry sent out for a letter, package, etc. that is missing in transport 3 ammunition that traces its own course in the air with a trail of smoke or fire, so as to facilitate adjustment of the aim 4 a substance, usually a radioactive isotope, used to follow a chemical process or a complex sequence of biochemical reactions (as in an animal body), to locate diseased cells and tissues, to determine physical properties, etc. 5 a contrasting color woven into or stamped on wire insulation for identification and for aid in tracing a circuit

tracery (treis´эr i:) pl. -er·ies •n. ornamental work of interlacing or branching lines, as in a Gothic window, some kinds of embroidery, etc. [< TRACE¹ + -ERY]

trachea (trei´ki: э; chiefly Brit trэ ki:´э) pl. -che·ae' (-i:') or -che·as •n. 1 in the respiratory tract of most land vertebrates, the tube extending from the larynx to the two bronchi; windpipe: see LUNG, illus. 2 in the respiratory system of insects and certain other invertebrates, any of the tubules branching throughout the body and conducting air from the exterior 3 Bot. VESSEL (sense 4b) [ME trache < ML trachea < LL trachia, windpipe < Gr tracheia (arteria), rough (windpipe) < trachys, rough, akin to thrassein, to confuse < IE base *dher-, dark residue, dirt > DREGS]

tracheal (trei´ki: эl, trэ ki:´эl) •adj. 1 of, like, or having a trachea or tracheae 2 of or composed of woody tissue having tracheae (vessels) or tracheids, or both

tracheate (trei´ki: it, -eit'; trэ ki:´-) •adj. breathing through tracheae, as insects

tracheid (trei´ki: id) •n. Bot. any of the long, nonliving, thick-walled, water-conducting, tubelike cells found in xylem, esp. of the conifers, communicating only by pits in their walls with adjacent tracheids tra·che´i·dal •adj. [TRACHE(O)- + -ID]

tracheitis (trei'ki: ait´is) •n. inflammation of the trachea [ModL: see TRACHEA & -ITIS]

tracheo- (trei´ki: ou', -э) combining form trachea, trachea and {tracheotomy} Also, before a vowel, tra·che- [< TRACHEA]

tracheobronchial (trei'ki: ou bräŋ´ki: эl) •adj. relating to the trachea and bronchi

tracheole (trei´ki: oul') •n. any of the extremely small, thin-walled, respiratory tubules originating from the ends of the smallest insect tracheae [TRACHE(O)- + -ole, dim. suffix < Fr < L -olus, -olum, -ola]

tracheophyte (trei´ki: ou fait') •n. any vascular plant [TRACHEO- + -PHYTE]

tracheotomy (trei'ki: ät´э mi:) pl. -mies surgical incision of the trachea, as for making an artificial breathing hole: also tra'che·os´to·my (-äs´tэ mi:) •n. [TRACHEO- + -TOMY]

trachoma (trэ kou´mэ) •n. a contagious infection of the conjunctiva and cornea, caused by a bacterium (Chlamydia trachomatis) and characterized by granulation and eventual scar formation tra·chom´a·tous (-käm´э tэs, -kou´mэ-) •adj. [ModL < Gr trachōma, roughness < trachys, rough: see TRACHEA]

trachyte (trei´kait', træk´ait') •n. a fine-grained, light-colored, extrusive, igneous rock, consisting largely of alkalic feldspars and equivalent to syenite in composition [Fr < Gr trachys, rough: see TRACHEA]

trachytic (trэ kit´ik) •adj. of or pertaining to the internal structure of some igneous rocks, as trachyte, in which hairlike feldspar crystals are in nearly parallel rows

tracing (treis´iŋ) •n. 1 the action of one that traces 2 something made by tracing; specif., a) a copy of a drawing, etc. made by tracing the lines on a superimposed, transparent sheet b) the record of a recording instrument, in the form of a traced line

track (træk) •n. 1 a mark or series of marks or other discoverable evidence left by a person, animal, or thing that has passed, as a footprint, wheel rut, wake of a boat, etc. 2 a trace or vestige 3 a beaten path or trail left by the repeated passage of persons, animals, or vehicles 4 a) a course or line of motion or action; route; way b) the projection of the flight path of an airplane, rocket, etc. on the surface of the earth 5 a sequence of ideas, events, etc.; succession 6 a path or circuit laid out for running, horse racing, etc. Æ 7 any of the courses of study continuing through succeeding grades in an educational structure (tracking), arranged according to various levels of mastery, to which students are assigned on the basis of test performance, abilities, needs, etc. 8 a pair of parallel metal rails, with their crossties, etc., on which trains, streetcars, etc. run Æ 9 the distance between the centers of the tread of parallel wheels, as of an automobile 10 either of the two continuous roller belts with which tanks, some tractors, etc. are equipped for moving over rough ground 11 the tread of an automobile tire Æ 12 a) athletic sports performed on a track, as running, hurdling, etc. b) track and field sports together 13 a) SOUNDTRACK b) any of the bands on a phonograph record, compact disc, etc. c) any of the separate, parallel recording surfaces extending along the length of a magnetic tape d) in a computer, that part of a magnetic drum, tape, or disk that passes under a given reading head position 14 Film TRACKING SHOT •vt. 1 a) to follow the track or footprints of {to track game} b) to follow (a path, etc.) 2 to trace by means of vestiges, evidence, etc. 3 to plot the path of and record data from (an aircraft, spacecraft, missile, etc.) using radar, a telescope, etc. 4 to tread or travel 5 a) to leave tracks or footprints on (often with up) Æ b) to leave in the form of tracks {to track dirt over a floor} Æ 6 to provide with tracks or rails 7 Film to follow (a moving object or person) with a moving camera •vi. 1 to run in the same (width) track 2 to be in alignment, as gears, wheels, or the stylus of a phonograph cartridge with a groove on a record 3 to have a (specified) width between the wheels {a narrow-gauge car tracks less than 56 inches} 4 Film to track a moving object: said of a camera or its operator Æ in one's tracks where one is at the moment keep track of to keep an account of; stay informed about lose track of to fail to keep informed about; lose sight or knowledge of Æ make tracks [Colloq.] to proceed or depart hurriedly on (or off) the track keeping to (or straying from) the subject, objective, or goal Æ the wrong side of the tracks that part of a community where those considered socially and culturally inferior live track down 1 to pursue until caught, as by following tracks 2 to investigate fully or search for until found track´er •n. [LME trak < MFr trac, a track, tract, trace < ?]

track and field a series of contests in running, jumping, shot-putting, etc. performed on a track and on a FIELD (n. 11b) track-and-field (træk´эn fi:ld´) •adj.

track lighting a method of lighting areas in a room with swiveled spotlights (track lights) that can be inserted variously along a narrow, electrified track

track record [Colloq.] the record of the performance of a person, organization, etc. as in some activity or on some issue [prob. with reference to the running records of racehorses]

track system a system of education in which students are put in a TRACK (n. 7)

trackage (træk´ij) •n. 1 all the tracks of a railroad 2 a) permission for a railroad to use the tracks of another b) a charge for this [prec. + AGE]

tracking shot Film a shot, as of a moving object or person, made by a camera moving forward, backward, or sideways

tracking station a station equipped to track the path of and record data from a spacecraft, satellite, etc.

trackless (-lis) •adj. 1 a) without a track, trail, or path {a trackless wilderness} b) leaving no track, or trail 2 not running on tracks {a trackless trolley}: cf. TROLLEY BUS

trackman (-mэn) pl. -men •n. 1 a person whose work is laying and repairing railroad tracks: also track´lay'er (-lei'эr) 2 an athlete who competes in track-and-field events, esp. a runner

trackwalker (-wök'эr) •n. a person whose work is walking along, and inspecting, sections of railroad track

tract¹ (trækt) •n. 1 [Archaic] a) duration or lapse of time b) a period of time 2 a continuous expanse of land or of water, mineral deposit, etc.; stretch; extent; area Æ 3 [Chiefly West] a housing development: see DEVELOPMENT (sense 4) 4 Anat., Zool. a) a system of parts or organs, or an elongated region, having some special function {the genitourinary tract} b) a bundle of nerve fibers having the same origin, termination, and function 5 R.C.Ch. in the former Latin Mass, one or more penitential verses said, as in Lent, after the Gradual [ML(Ec) tractus] [L tractus, a drawing out, extent < pp. of trahere, to DRAW]

tract² (trækt) •n. 1 [Obs.] a treatise 2 a propagandizing pamphlet, esp. one on a religious or political subject [ME tracte < LL tractatus: see TRACTATE]

tractable (træk´tэ bªl) •adj. 1 easily managed, taught, or controlled; docile; compliant 2 easily worked; malleable SYN. OBEDIENT trac'ta·bil´i·ty or trac´ta·ble·ness •n. trac´ta·bly •adv. [L tractabilis < tractare, to drag, haul, freq. of trahere, to DRAW]

Tractarianism (træk ter´i: эn iz'эm) •n. the principles of the Oxford movement, favoring a return to early Catholic doctrines in the Church of England: from the ninety Tracts for the Times, pamphlets issued at Oxford from 1833-41 Trac·tar´i·an •n., adj.

tractate (træk´teit') •n. a treatise or dissertation [LL tractatus, discussion, treatise < pp. of L tractare: see TRACTABLE]

tractile (træk´til, -tail') •adj. that can be drawn out in length; ductile; tensile trac·til´i·ty (-til´э ti:) •n. [< L tractus (see TRACTION) + -ILE]

traction (træk´shэn) •n. 1 a) a pulling or drawing, esp. of a load, vehicle, etc. over a road, track, or other surface b) the state of being pulled or drawn c) the kind of power used for pulling or drawing {electric traction} 2 a) a pulling, as of the muscles of the leg, arm, etc., in order to bring a fractured or dislocated bone into place b) a constant pull of this kind maintained by means of some apparatus, as for relieving pressure 3 the power, as of tires on pavement, to grip or hold to a surface while moving, without slipping trac´tion·al •adj. [ML tractio < L tractus, pp. of trahere, to DRAW]

tractive (træk´tiv) •adj. used for pulling or drawing [ML tractivus: see TRACTION & -IVE]

tractor (træk´tэr) •n. 1 a powerful vehicle with a gasoline or diesel engine and large rear wheels or endless belt treads, used for pulling farm machinery, hauling loads, etc. 2 a truck with a driver's cab and no body, designed for hauling one or more large trailers 3 an airplane with its propeller or propellers mounted in front of the engine [ModL < L tractus: see TRACTION]

tractor-trailer (-treil´эr) •n. a combination of a TRACTOR (sense 2) and a trailer or semitrailer, used in trucking

Tracy (trei´si:) a feminine name

trad (træd) short for TRADITIONAL (often, specif., sense 2) •adj.

trade (treid) •n. 1 orig., a) a track; path b) a course; regular procedure 2 a) a means of earning one's living; occupation, work, or line of business b) skilled work, as distinguished from unskilled work or from a profession or business; craft c) all the persons or companies in a particular line of business or work 3 the buying and selling of commodities or the bartering of goods; commerce 4 dealings or the market involving specified commodities, customers, seasons, etc. {the tourist trade, the Easter trade} 5 customers; clientele 6 a purchase or sale; deal; bargain 7 an exchange; swap 8 [pl.] the trade winds: see TRADE WIND •adj. 1 of or relating to trade or commerce 2 of, by, or for those in a particular business or industry {trade papers or journals} 3 of the members in the trades, or crafts, etc. {trade unions}: also trades •vi. trad´ed, trad´ing 1 to carry on a trade or business 2 to have business dealings (with someone) 3 to make an exchange (with someone) 4 [Colloq.] to be a customer (at a specified store or shop) •vt. 1 to exchange; barter; swap 2 to buy and sell (stocks, etc.) SYN. BUSINESS, SELL Æ trade in to give (one's used automobile, etc.) as part of the purchase price of a new one trade on (or upon) to take advantage of; exploit trad´a·ble or trade´a·ble •adj. [ME, a track, course of action < MLowG, a track < OS trada, a trace, trail, akin to ME trede, TREAD]

trade acceptance a bill of exchange or draft drawn upon the purchaser by the seller and accepted by the purchaser for payment at a specified time

trade association an association of merchants or business firms for the unified promotion of their common interests

trade book a book intended for sale to the general public, as distinguished from a textbook, subscription book, etc.

trade discount a deduction from the list price allowed a retailer by a manufacturer, wholesaler, or distributor, or allowed one firm by another in the same trade

trade edition that edition of a book sold to the general public, as distinguished from a school edition, etc. of the same book

trade journal (or magazine) a magazine with contents of interest to those in a given trade, business, or industry, sometimes distributed without cost to its readers

trade name 1 the name by which a commodity is commonly known in trade 2 a name used by a company to describe a product, service, etc., often, specif., a name that is a trademark or service mark 3 the name under which a company carries on business

trade paperback a paperback book of a size similar to a typical hard-cover book, intended for sale in bookstores as distinguished from a cheaper and smaller paperback intended for sale on racks at drugstores, newsstands, etc.

trade route any route customarily taken by trading ships, caravans, etc.

trade school a school where a trade or trades are taught

trade secret any device, method, formula, etc. known to the manufacturer who uses it but not to his competitors

trade union 1 LABOR UNION: also [Chiefly Brit.] trades union 2 a labor union consisting of workers in a particular trade or craft trade unionism trade unionist

trade wind a wind that blows steadily toward the equator from the northeast in the tropics north of the equator and from the southeast in the tropics south of the equator [earlier trade, adv., steadily in phr. to blow trade]

trade-in (treid´in') •n. 1 a used car, appliance, etc. given or taken as part payment in the purchase of a new one 2 a transaction involving a trade-in 3 the valuation allowed by the seller on a trade-in

trade-last (treid´læst') •n. [Colloq.] a compliment heard about another that one offers to tell that person in exchange for one that can similarly be reported about oneself

trademark (treid´märk') •n. a symbol, design, word, letter, etc. used by a manufacturer or dealer to distinguish a product or products from those of competitors: usually registered and protected by law: cf. SERVICE MARK •vt. 1 to put a trademark on (a product) 2 to register (a symbol, word, etc.) as a trademark

trade-off (treid´öf') •n. an exchange; esp., a giving up of one benefit, advantage, etc. in order to gain another regarded as more desirable Also trade´off'

trader (treid´эr) •n. 1 a person who trades; merchant 2 a ship used in trade Æ 3 a stockbroker who trades esp. for his own account rather than customers' accounts

tradescantia (træd'es kæn´shi: э, -shэ) •n. SPIDERWORT [ModL, after John Tradescant (1608-62), Eng naturalist & traveler]

tradesman (treidz´mэn) pl. -men •n. 1 [Brit.] a craftsman or artisan 2 [Chiefly Brit., etc.] a person engaged in trade; esp., a storekeeper trades´wom'an, pl. -wom'en, •n.fem.

tradespeople (-pi:'pэl) •n.pl. people engaged in trade; esp., storekeepers: also trades´folk' (-fouk')

trading post a store or station in an outpost, settlement, etc., where trading is done, as with natives

trading stamp a stamp given by some merchants as a premium to customers, redeemable in specified quantities for various kinds of merchandise

tradition (trэ dish´эn) •n. 1 orig., a surrender or betrayal 2 a) the handing down orally of stories, beliefs, customs, etc. from generation to generation b) a story, belief, custom, proverb, etc. handed down this way 3 a long-established custom or practice that has the effect of an unwritten law; specif., any of the usages of a school of art or literature handed down through the generations, and generally observed 4 Law DELIVERY (sense 8) 5 Theol. a) among Jews, the unwritten religious code and doctrine regarded as handed down from Moses b) among Christians, the unwritten teachings regarded as handed down from Jesus and the Apostles c) among Muslims, the sayings and acts attributed to Mohammed and transmitted orally tra·di´tion·less •adj. [ME tradycion < MFr tradicion < L traditio, a surrender, delivery, tradition < traditus, pp. of tradere, to deliver: see TREASON]

traditional (trэ dish´э nэl) •adj. 1 of, handed down by, or conforming to tradition; conventional: also tra·di´tion·ar'y (-ner'i:) or [Rare] trad·i·tive (træd´э tiv) 2 designating or of a style of improvised jazz associated historically with early black New Orleans musicians and typically played by a band made up of one or two cornets, a clarinet, a trombone, and a rhythm section that includes a banjo and a tuba tra·di´tion·al·ly •adv.

traditionalism (-iz'эm) •n. adherence to tradition; sometimes, specif., excessive attachment to tradition tra·di´tion·al·ist •n. tra·di'tion·al·is´tic •adj.

traditionist (-ist) •n. 1 an upholder of tradition 2 a transmitter, recorder, or student of tradition

traduce (trэ du:s´, -dyu:s´) -duced´, -duc´ing •vt. 1 to say untrue or malicious things about; defame; slander; vilify 2 to make a mockery of; betray tra·duce´ment •n. tra·duc´er •n. [L traducere, to lead along, exhibit as a spectacle, disgrace < tra(ns), across, over + ducere, to lead: see TRANS- & DUCT]

traducianism (trэ du:´shэn iz'эm, -dyu:´-) Theol. the doctrine that a child's soul is generated by the child's parents: opposed to CREATIONISM (sense 1) •n. tra·du´cian·ist •n. [< LL traducianus, believer in this doctrine < tradux, a shoot, lit., that which is brought over < traducere: see TRADUCE]

Trafalgar (trэ fæl´gэr; Sp třä'fäl gäř´), Cape cape on the SW coast of Spain, between Cádiz & the Strait of Gibraltar: site of a naval battle (1805) in which Nelson's British fleet defeated Napoleon's fleet

traffic (træf´ik) •n. 1 orig., a) transportation of goods for trading b) trading over great distances; commerce 2 buying and selling; barter; trade, sometimes, specif., of a wrong or illegal kind {traffic in drugs} 3 dealings, business, or intercourse (with someone) 4 a) the movement or number of automobiles along a street, pedestrians along a sidewalk, ships using a port, etc. b) the automobiles, pedestrians, ships, etc. so moving 5 the number of passengers, quantity of freight, etc. carried by a transportation company during a given period 6 the volume of telegrams, calls, etc. transmitted by a communications company during a given period 7 the number of potential customers entering a retail store during a given period •adj. of or having to do with traffic {a traffic violation, traffic manager} •vi. -ficked, -fick·ing 1 to carry on traffic, esp. illegal trade (in a commodity) 2 to have traffic, trade, or dealings (with someone) traf´fick·er •n. [Fr trafic < It traffico < trafficare, to trade < L trans, across +It ficcare, to thrust in, bring < VL *figicare, intens. for L figere: see FIX]

traffic circle a circular street at the intersection of several streets with vehicles traveling in one direction only, designed to facilitate the flow of traffic; rotary

traffic court a local court having jurisdiction over those charged with violating statutes or ordinances governing the flow of traffic on streets and highways

traffic island a platform or marked area in a roadway, from which vehicular traffic is diverted so as to separate such traffic, or to protect pedestrians: cf. SAFETY ZONE

traffic light (or signal) a mechanical device consisting of a set of signal lights operating in sequence (usually green to yellow to red and back), placed at intersections to regulate traffic

traffic pattern a pattern of flight in the air above or around an airport normally followed by aircraft before landing or after taking off

tragacanth (træg´э kænθ') •n. 1 a white or reddish, tasteless and odorless gum, used in pharmacy, calico printing, etc. 2 any of various, esp. Asiatic, plants (genus Astragalus) of the pea family, yielding this gum [Fr tragacanthe < L tragacantha < Gr tragakantha < tragos, goat (see TRAGEDY) + akantha, thorn (see ACANTHO-)]

tragedian (trэ ji:´di: эn) •n. 1 a writer of tragedies 2 an actor of tragedy [ME tragedien < MFr]

tragedienne (trэ ji:'di: en´) •n. an actress of tragedy [Fr tragédienne]

tragedy (træj´э di:) pl. -dies •n. 1 a) a serious play or drama typically dealing with the problems of a central character, leading to an unhappy or disastrous ending brought on, as in ancient drama, by fate and a tragic flaw in this character, or, in modern drama, usually by moral weakness, psychological maladjustment, or social pressures (see CATHARSIS, sense 2, TRAGIC FLAW) b) such plays collectively c) the branch of drama having to do with such plays 2 the writing, acting, or theoretical principles of this kind of drama 3 a novel or other literary work with similar characteristics 4 the tragic element of such a literary work, or of a real event 5 a very sad or tragic event or sequence of events; disaster [ME tragedie < MFr < L tragoedia < Gr tragōidia, tragedy, lit., the song of the goat < tragos, goat ( < IE *treg-, to gnaw < base *ter-, to rub, grind >THROW) + ōidē, song (see ODE): so named ? because of the goatskin dress of the performers, representing satyrs]

tragic (træj´ik) •adj. 1 of, or having the nature of, tragedy 2 like or characteristic of tragedy; bringing great harm, suffering, etc.; calamitous, disastrous, fatal, etc. 3 appropriate to the acting of tragedy {in a tragic voice} 4 writing or acting in tragedy Also trag´i·cal •n. the tragic element in art or life trag´i·cal·ly •adv. trag´i·cal·ness •n. [L tragicus < Gr tragikos]

tragic flaw a flaw, as pride, in the character of the protagonist of a tragedy, that leads to a downfall

tragicomedy (træj'i käm´э di:) pl. -dies •n. 1 a play or other literary work combining tragic and comic elements 2 a situation or incident in life like this trag'i·com´ic (-käm´ik) or trag'i·com´i·cal •adj. trag'i·com´i·cal·ly •adv. [Fr tragicomédie < LL tragicomedia, contr. of L tragicocomoedia: see TRAGIC & COMEDY]

tragopan (træg´ou pæn') •n. any of several brightly colored Asiatic pheasants (genus Tragopan) with two erectile, fleshy, hornlike protuberances on the head [ModL < L, fabulous bird < Gr, lit., goat-Pan < tragos, goat (see TRAGEDY) + Pan, Pan]

tragus (trei´gэs) pl. -gi' (-jai') •n. the fleshy, cartilaginous protrusion at the front of the external ear, partly extending over the opening of the ear [LL < Gr tragos, hairy part of the ear, lit., goat: see TRAGEDY]

trahison des clercs (třå i: zôñ dei kleřk´) a compromising of intellectual integrity, esp. for political reasons

trail (treil) •vt. 1 a) to drag or let drag behind one, esp. on the ground, etc. b) to bring along behind {trailing exhaust fumes} c) to pull or tow 2 a) to make or mark (a path, track, etc.), as by treading down b) to make a path in (grass, etc.) 3 to follow the tracks of; track 4 to hunt by tracking 5 a) to follow behind, esp. in a lagging manner b) to be or lag behind, as in a contest 6 Mil. to carry (a rifle, etc.) in the right hand with the arm extended downward so that the muzzle is tilted forward and the butt is near the ground •vi. 1 to hang down, esp. behind, so as to drag on the ground, etc. 2 to grow so long as to extend along the ground, over rocks, etc.: said of some plants 3 to extend in an irregular line; straggle 4 to flow behind in a long, thin stream, wisp, etc. {smoke trailed from the chimney} 5 to move, walk, go along, etc. wearily, heavily, or slowly; crawl; drag 6 a) to follow or lag behind b) to be losing, as in a sports contest {to trail by 13 points} 7 to track game: said of hounds 8 to grow gradually weaker, dimmer, less direct, etc.: with off or away •n. [ME traille < MFr < the v.] 1 something that trails or is trailed behind 2 a mark, footprint, scent, etc. left by a person, animal, or thing that has passed Æ 3 a path or track made by repeated passage or deliberately blazed 4 a series of events or conditions following something; train {an illness bringing debts in its trail} 5 Mil. a) the position of trailing a rifle b) a beamlike part of a gun carriage, which may be lowered to the ground to form a rear brace trail´ing·ly •adv. [ME trailen < MFr trailler < VL *tragulare < L tragula, small sledge, dragnet < trahere, to DRAW]

trailblazer (treil´blei'zэr) •n. 1 a person who blazes a trail 2 a pioneer in any field trail´blaz'ing •n.

trailer (treil´эr) •n. 1 a person, animal, or thing that trails another Æ 2 a cart, wagon, or large van, designed to be pulled by an automobile, truck, or TRACTOR (sense 2), for hauling freight, animals, a boat, etc. Æ 3 a closed vehicle designed to be pulled by an automobile or truck and equipped as a place to live or work in, as one with beds, cooking facilities, etc.: see also MOBILE HOME Æ 4 Film a) a short film made up of scenes from, and advertising, a coming movie (because originally attached to the end of a reel of film) b) a blank length of film at the end of a reel •vt. to pull or tow (a boat, car, etc.) by using a TRAILER (n. 2) •vi. to travel by using a TRAILER (n. 3)

trailer park an area, usually with piped water, electricity, etc., designed to provide rental space for trailers, esp. mobile homes to be parked for a long or short time

trailing arbutus (treil´iŋ) ARBUTUS (sense 2)

trailing edge Aeron. the rear edge of an airfoil, propeller blade, etc.

train (trein) •n. 1 something that hangs down and drags behind; specif., a) a part of a dress, skirt, etc. that trails b) the tail feathers of a bird {the train of a peacock} c) a stream of something trailing behind 2 a group of persons following as attendants in a procession; retinue; suite 3 a group of persons, animals, vehicles, etc. that follow one another in a line; procession; caravan; cortege 4 the persons, vehicles, etc. carrying supplies, ammunition, food, etc. for combat troops 5 a series of events or conditions that follow some happening; aftermath {a war bringing famine and disease in its train} 6 any connected order or arrangement; series; sequence {a train of thought} 7 a line of gunpowder, etc. that serves as a fuse for an explosive charge 8 a series of connected mechanical parts for transmitting motion {a train of gears} 9 a line of connected railroad cars pulled or pushed by a locomotive or locomotives •vt. [ME trainen < OFr trahiner] 1 [Rare] to trail or drag 2 to guide the growth of (a plant), as by tying, pruning, etc. 3 to subject to certain action, exercises, etc. in order to bring to a desired condition {a surgeon's hand trained to be steady} 4 to guide or control the mental, moral, etc. development of; bring up; rear 5 to instruct so as to make proficient or qualified {to train nurses at a hospital} 6 to discipline or condition (animals) to perform tricks or obey commands 7 to prepare or make fit for an athletic contest, etc. as by exercise, diet, etc. 8 to aim (a gun, binoculars, etc.) at something; bring to bear: usually with on 9 [Colloq.] to condition (a child, puppy, etc.) to defecate and urinate in the required place •vi. to administer or undergo training SYN. TEACH train´a·ble •adj. [ME traine < OFr trahin < trahiner, to draw on < VL *traginare < L trahere, to pull, DRAW]

train oil whale oil, or, formerly, oil from seals, codfish, etc. [earlier trane < MDu traen, akin to Ger träne, a tear: basic sense exuded oil]

trainband (-bænd') •n. [Historical] a band of citizens trained locally as a militia [contr. of trained band]

trainee (trein i:´) •n. a person undergoing job training, military training, etc.

traineeship (-ship') •n. 1 the position or status of trainee, esp. a position for advanced training or research with a grant for financial support 2 such a grant

trainer (trein´эr) •n. 1 a person who trains; specif., a) a person who trains animals, as racehorses, show dogs, circus beasts, etc. b) a person who trains, provides first aid for, etc. athletes in competition 2 a) something, as an apparatus, used in training b) a flight simulator or special aircraft used to train pilots

training (-iŋ) •n. 1 the action or method of one that trains 2 the process or experience of being trained

training school 1 a school that gives training in some vocation or profession, as nursing, acting, etc. 2 an institution for detaining and reeducating juvenile offenders

training ship a ship used for training persons in seamanship, esp. in a navy

training table a table or dining room where athletes in training eat supervised meals

trainman (trein´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. a person who works on a railroad train or in a railroad yard, usually as a conductor's assistant; esp., a brakeman

trainmaster (-mæs'tэr) •n. Æ 1 [Historical] the man in charge of a wagon train 2 a railroad official in charge of some division of a line

traipse (treips) traipsed, traips´ing •vi., vt. [Colloq. or Dial.] to walk, wander, tramp, or gad •n. [Colloq. or Dial.] the act of traipsing [earlier trapse, prob. < or akin to Fris trapsen, to walk aimlessly, with storklike gait, intens. of *trappen; akin to MDu, to tread, stamp, OE treppan: see TRAP¹]

trait (treit) •n. 1 a distinguishing quality or characteristic, as of personality 2 [Rare] a stroke, trace, or touch SYN. QUALITY [Fr, a draft, line, stroke < L tractus, pp. of trahere, to DRAW]

traitor (treit´эr) •n. a person who betrays his or her country, cause, friends, etc.; one guilty of treason or treachery trai·tress (trei´tris) •n.fem. [ME traitour < OFr traitor < L traditor, one who betrays < traditus, pp. of tradere, to hand over, betray: see TREASON]

traitorous (treit´эr эs) •adj. 1 of, or having the nature of, a traitor; treacherous; faithless 2 of or involving treason; treasonable SYN. FAITHLESS trai´tor·ous·ly •adv. trai´tor·ous·ness •n.

Trajan (trei´jэn) (L. name Marcus Ulpius Trajanus) c. A.D. 53-117; Rom. general & statesman, born in Spain: Rom. emperor (98-117)

traject (trэ jekt´) •vt. [Now Rare] to transmit or transport tra·jec´tion •n. [< L trajectus, pp. of trajicere, to throw or fling over or across < tra- (see TRANS-) + jacere, to throw: see JET¹]

trajectory (trэ jek´tэ ri:) pl. -ries •n. 1 the curved path of something hurtling through space, esp. that of a projectile from the time it leaves the muzzle of the gun 2 Math. a) a curve or surface that passes through all the curves of a given family at the same angle b) a curve or surface that fits a particular law such as passing through a given set of points [ML trajectorius < L trajectus: see TRAJECT]

tra-la (trä lä´) •interj. syllables conventionally used in singing, esp. as a short refrain, to express gaiety or lightheartedness Often tra'-la-la´

Tralee (trэ li:´) county seat of Kerry, SW Ireland: pop. 16,000

tram¹ (træm) •n. a double, twisted silk thread used as the weft in fine silks and velvets [Fr trame < L trama, the woof]

tram² (træm) •n. 1 an open railway car for carrying loads in mines: also tram´car' 2 the basket or car of an overhead conveyor 3 short for TRAMROAD 4 [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.)] a) a streetcar (in full tram´car') b) [often pl.] a streetcar line (in full tram´line') •vt., vi. trammed, tram´ming to convey or be conveyed by tram [E dial., shaft, wooden frame for carrying, rail, coal wagon, prob. < LowG traam, a beam]