turbidimeter (tør'bi dim´эt эr) •n. a device for measuring the turbidity of a liquid, as in a water-purification plant tur·bi·di·met·ric (tør'bi di me´trik) •adj. tur'bi·dim´e·try (-э tri:) •n. [TURBIDI(TY) + -METER]

turbidite (tør´bi dait') •n. Geol. rock consisting of sediment deposited from a turbidity current [TURBID + -ITE¹]

turbidity current a current of highly turbid water carrying large amounts of suspended sediment that increase its density and cause it to flow downward through less dense water along the bottom slope of a sea or lake

turbinado (sugar) (tør'bэ nä´dou) a partially refined, granulated, pale-brown sugar obtained by washing raw sugar in a centrifuge until most of the molasses is removed [Cuban Sp < turbina, centrifuge for processing sugar, TURBINE + -ado, -ATE¹]

turbinate (tør´bэ nit, -neit') •adj. 1 shaped like a cone resting on its apex, as a molluskan shell 2 shaped like a scroll or spiral; specif., designating or of any of certain spiral, spongy bones in the nasal passages Also tur´bi·nat'ed (-neit'id) or tur´bi·nal •n. 1 a turbinate shell 2 a turbinate bone [L turbinatus < turbo (gen. turbinis), a whirl, rotation: for IE base see TURBID]

turbine (tør´bin, -bain') •n. an engine or motor having a drive shaft driven either by the impulse of steam, water, air, gas, etc. against the curved vanes of a wheel (or set of wheels) or by the reaction of fluid passing out through nozzles located around the wheel [Fr < L turbo, whirl: see TURBINATE]

turbit (tør´bit) •n. any of a breed of domestic pigeon distinguished by a short head, a peaked crest, and a ruffled breast [< ? L turbo, a top: from the shape]

turbo (tør´bou) •n. short for TURBOSUPERCHARGER

turbo- (tør´bou) combining form consisting of or driven by a turbine {turboprop} [< TURBINE]

turbocharge (tør´bou chärj') -charged', -charg'ing •vt. to increase the power of, maintain air pressure in, etc. (an engine) by the use of a turbocharger

turbocharger (tør´bou chär'jэr) •n. TURBOSUPERCHARGER

turbofan (tør´bou fæn') •n. 1 a fanlike turbojet engine designed to create additional thrust by diverting a secondary airflow around the combustion chamber: in full turbofan engine 2 a fan driven by a turbine

turbogenerator (tør'bou jen´эr eit'эr) •n. a generator driven by and directly coupled to a turbine

turbojet (tør´bou jet') •n. 1 a tunnel-like reaction engine in which air is drawn in, compressed by spinning blades attached to the turbine shaft, and mixed with atomized fuel, with the resultant mixture being ignited in combustion chambers to produce a powerful jet that drives the engine's turbines and provides thrust: in full turbojet engine 2 an aircraft propelled by such an engine

turboprop (tør´bou präp') •n. 1 a turbojet engine whose turbine shaft, through reduction gears, drives a propeller that develops most of the thrust: in full turboprop engine 2 an aircraft propelled by such an engine [TURBO- + PROP(ELLER)]

turbosupercharger (tør'bou su:´pэr chär'jэr) •n. a type of supercharger driven not by the engine, but by a turbine that is powered by exhaust gases

turbot (tør´bэt) pl. -bot •n.or -bots any of various flounders highly regarded as food [ME turbut < OFr tourbout, prob. < OSwed törnbut < törn, thorn (akin to THORN) + but, BUTT¹ (so named from the spines)]

turbulence (tør´byu: lэns, -byэ-) •n. the condition or quality of being turbulent; specif., a) commotion or wild disorder b) violent, irregular motion or swirling agitation of water, air, gas, etc. Also tur´bu·len·cy [LL turbulentia]

turbulent (tør´byu: lэnt, -byэ-) •adj. full of commotion or wild disorder; specif., a) marked by or causing turmoil; unruly or boisterous {a turbulent mob} b) violently agitated; tumultuous {turbulent grief} c) marked by wildly irregular motion {turbulent air currents} tur´bu·lent·ly •adv. [Fr < L turbulentus < turba, a crowd: see TURBID]

turbulent flow fluid flow characterized by random fluctuations in velocity from point to point: cf. LAMINAR FLOW

Turco- (tør´kou, -kэ) combining form TURKO-

turd (tørd) •n. a piece of excrement: now a vulgar term [ME < OE tord, akin to MHG zurch, dung, Latvian dirsa, anus < IE base *der-, to split > TEAR¹]

tureen (tu: ri:n´, tyu:-) •n. a large, deep serving dish with a lid, used for soups, stews, etc. [earlier terreen < MFr terrine, earthen vessel < VL *terrinus < L terra, earth]

Turenne (tu: ren´; Fr tü řen´), Vicomte de (dэ) (Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne) 1611-75; Fr. marshal

turf (tørf) pl. turfs or [Archaic] turves (tørvz) •n. 1 a) a surface layer of earth containing grass plants with their matted roots; sod; sward b) [Chiefly Brit.] a piece of this layer 2 peat, or a piece of it for use as fuel 3 a track for horse racing; also, the sport of horse racing: usually with the Æ 4 [Slang] a) a neighborhood area regarded by a street gang as its own territory to be defended against other gangs b) one's own territory or domain •vt. to cover with turf turf out [Brit., etc. Colloq.] to throw out; remove, discard, dismiss, etc. turf´y •adj. [ME < OE, akin to ON torf < IE *dorbhos, sod, tuft of grass < base *derbh-, to twist together]

turfman (-mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. a person interested in horse racing, esp. an owner, trainer, etc. of racehorses

Turgenev (tur gein´эf, -yэf), I·van Ser·ge·e·vich (i: vän´ syiř gyei´yэ vyich') 1818-83; Russ. novelist: also sp. Turgenieff or Turgeniev

turgescent (tэr jes´эnt) •adj. becoming turgid or swollen; swelling tur·ges´cence or tur·ges´cen·cy •n. [L turgescens, prp. of turgescere, to swell up: see TURGID & -ESCENT]

turgid (tør´jid) •adj. 1 swollen; distended 2 bombastic; pompous; grandiloquent SYN. BOMBASTIC tur·gid´i·ty or tur´gid·ness •n. tur´gid·ly •adv. [L turgidus < turgere, to swell]

turgor (tør´gэr, -gör') •n. 1 turgescence; turgidity 2 the normal distention or rigidity of living animal and plant cells due to pressure against the cell membrane from within by the cell contents [LL < L turgere, to swell]

Turgot (tüř gou´), Anne Ro·bert Jacques (än řô beř zhäk´) Baron de l'Aulne, 1727-81; Fr. economist & statesman

Turin (tur´in, tyur´-) commune in the Piedmont, NW Italy, on the Po River: pop. 1,117,000: It. name TORINO

Turing (tur´iŋ, tyur´-), Alan Math·i·son (mæθ´i sэn) 1912-54; Brit. mathematician: pioneer in computer theory

turista (tu: ři:s´tä) •n. acute infectious diarrhea as experienced by some tourists in certain foreign countries, usually caused by the presence of bacteria in the food or water [Sp, tourist]

Turk abbrev. 1 Turkey 2 Turkish Turk (tørk) •n. 1 a member of any of the Turkic-speaking peoples of central Asia 2 a member of the principal ethnic group of Turkey or, formerly, the Ottoman Empire 3 any native or inhabitant of present-day Turkey 4 any of a breed of swift saddle horse developed in Turkey 5 see YOUNG TURK [ME Turke < MFr Turc < ML Turcus < Turk Türk]

Turkestan (tør´ki stæn', -stän') region in central Asia, extending from the Caspian Sea to the Gobi Desert, inhabited by Turkic-speaking peoples: divided into RUSSIAN TURKESTAN & CHINESE TURKESTAN

Turkey (tør´ki:) country occupying Asia Minor & a SE part of the Balkan Peninsula: 301,381 sq. mi. (780,573 sq. km); pop. 51,819,000; cap. Ankara turkey (tør´ki:) pl. -keys •n.or -key Æ 1 a) any of a family (Meleagrididae) of large, gallinaceous North American birds with a small, naked head and spreading tail, including a wild or domesticated species (Meleagris gallopavo) bred as poultry and a wild species (Agriocharis ocellata) of Central America, with eyespots on the tail b) the flesh of a turkey Æ 2 [Slang] a failure: said esp. of a theatrical production Æ 3 [Slang] an inept, stupid, or unpleasant person Æ 4 Bowling three strikes in a row Æ talk turkey [Colloq.] to talk bluntly and directly [earlier Turkey-cock, term orig. applied to the guinea fowl, sometimes imported through Turkey and for a time identified with the Am fowl]

turkey cock 1 a male turkey 2 a strutting or pompous person

Turkey red 1 a bright red produced on cotton cloth by alizarin 2 cotton cloth of this color

turkey trot a ballroom dance to ragtime music, popular in the early 20th cent.

turkey vulture a dark-colored vulture (Cathartes aura) of temperate and tropical America, resembling a turkey in having a naked, reddish head: also called turkey buzzard

Turki (tur´ki:, tør´-) •adj. designating or of the Turkic languages or the peoples who speak them, esp. of the E or SE group, as Uighur or Uzbek •n. these peoples or languages collectively [Pers < Turk Türk]

Turkic (tørk´ik) •n. a family of Altaic languages that includes Turkish, Azerbaijani, Tatar, Uighur, Uzbek, and Turkmen •adj. designating or of this family of languages or the peoples who speak them

Turkish (tørk´ish) •adj. designating or of Turkey, its people, or their language or culture •n. the Turkic language of Turkey

Turkish bath 1 a kind of bath in which the bather, after a period of heavy perspiration in a room of hot air or steam, is washed, massaged, and cooled 2 a place where such a bath is given

Turkish delight (or paste) a kind of candy consisting of cubes of a flavored jellylike substance covered with powdered sugar

Turkish Empire OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Turkish tobacco a dark, highly aromatic tobacco, grown in Turkey, Greece, etc. and used chiefly in cigarettes

Turkish towel [also t- t-] a thick cotton towel of terry cloth

Turkism (tørk´iz'эm) •n. Turkish culture, beliefs, etc.

Turkman (tørk´mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) •n. a native or inhabitant of Turkmenistan

Turkmen (tørk´men', -mэn) pl. -mens •n. 1 a member of a people living mainly in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan and in N Iran and Afghanistan 2 the Turkic language of this people •adj. designating or of the Turkmens or their language or culture [see TURKOMAN]

Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic (tørk´mэn) republic of the U.S.S.R.: now TURKMENISTAN: also Turk·me·ni·a (tørk mi:´i: э, -mi:n´yэ)

Turkmenistan (tэrk men´i stæn', -stän') 1 TURKMEN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC 2 country in central Asia, on the Caspian Sea, north of Iran: became independent upon the breakup of the U.S.S.R. (1991): 188,455 sq. mi. (488,100 sq. km); pop. 3,192,000; cap. Ashkhabad: formerly, Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic Turk·me·ni·an (tørk mi:n´i: эn, -mi:n´yэn) •adj.

Turko- (tør´kou, -kэ) combining form 1 Turkish, Turkic 2 Turkey and

Turkoman (tør´kou mэn, -kэ-) •n. var. of TURKMEN [Pers Turkumān, one like a Turk]

Turks and Caicos Islands (tørks' эn keik´эs) British crown colony in the West Indies, consisting of two groups of small islands southeast of the Bahamas: 166 sq. mi. (430 sq. km); pop. 7,500

Turk's-cap lily (tørks´kæp') any of various lilies having flowers whose petals and sepals are strongly recurved, resembling a rolled turban

Turk's-head (tørks´hed') •n. Naut. a turbanlike knot made on a rope by means of a small line

Turku (tur´ku:') seaport in SW Finland: pop. 160,000

turmeric (tør´mэr ik) •n. 1 a) an East Indian plant (Curcuma longa) of the ginger family, whose rhizome in powdered form is used as a yellow dye or a seasoning, and in medicine b) its aromatic rhizome or the powder made from it 2 any of several other plants having tuberous rhizomes [earlier also tormerik < MFr terre-mérite < ML terra merita, lit., deserved (or deserving) earth < ?]

turmeric paper paper impregnated with turmeric, used as a test for alkali, which turns it brown, or for boric acid, which turns it reddish-brown

turmoil (tør´moil') •n. tumult; commotion; uproar; confusion [tur- (< ? TURBULENT) + MOIL]

turn (tørn) •vt. I. to cause to revolve or rotate 1 to make (a wheel, globe, etc.) move about a central point or axis; revolve or rotate 2 to give circular motion to; move around or partly around {to turn a key} 3 to do by a revolving motion {to turn a somersault} II. to form by revolving, rotating, etc. 1 to give circular shape to by rotating against a tool, as in a lathe 2 to give rounded shape or form to in any way 3 to give a well-rounded or graceful form to {to turn a pretty phrase} III. to change in position 1 to change the position of, as by a rotating motion {to turn a chair around} 2 to revolve in the mind; ponder (often with over) 3 a) to bend, fold, twist, etc. {turn the sheet back} b) to twist or wrench (one's ankle) 4 to bend back (a cutting edge); blunt 5 to reverse the position or sides of; invert; specif., a) to move so that the undersurface is on top and vice versa {to turn a phonograph record} b) to spade, plow, etc. so that the undersoil comes to the surface c) to reverse (a collar, coat, etc.) so that the inner surface becomes the outer 6 to cause to become upside down, topsy-turvy, etc. 7 to upset or unsettle (the stomach) IV. to change the movement or course of 1 to bend the course of; deflect; divert {to turn a blow} 2 to cause to change intentions, actions, etc. [to turn someone from his purpose]; specif., a) to convert or persuade b) to change in feelings, attitudes, etc. {to turn people against someone} 3 to go around (a corner, an army's flank, etc.) 4 to reach or pass (a certain age, amount, etc.) 5 to reverse the course of; specif., a) to stop or repel {to turn an attack} b) to cause to recoil, rebound, etc. {criticism turned against the critic} 6 to drive, set, let go, etc. in some way {to turn someone adrift} 7 a) to keep (money, goods, etc.) circulating or moving b) to earn (a profit), as in a commercial transaction V. to change the direction, trend, etc. of 1 to change the direction of (one's eyes, face, etc.) 2 to direct, point, aim, etc. {to turn a gun on someone} 3 to change the trend, focus, etc. of {to turn one's thoughts to practical matters} 4 to put to (a specified) use or result; employ; apply {to turn knowledge to good account, to turn one's hand to writing} VI. to change the nature or condition of 1 to change; convert; transmute {to turn cream into butter, a writer turned actor} 2 to exchange for {to turn produce into hard cash} 3 to subject {to turn another's remarks to ridicule} 4 to translate or paraphrase 5 to derange, dement, distract, or infatuate 6 to make sour 7 to affect in some way {turned sick by the sight} 8 to change the color of •vi. I. to revolve, rotate, etc. 1 to move in a circle or around an axis; rotate or revolve; pivot 2 to move in a circular manner; move around or partly around {the key won't turn} 3 a) to seem to be whirling or moving, as to one who is dizzy b) to reel or be giddy (said of the head) II. to form something by revolving 1 to run a lathe 2 to be shaped on a lathe III. to change position 1 a) to move in a rotary manner so as to change position b) to shift or twist the body as if on an axis 2 to become curved or bent 3 to reverse position so that bottom becomes top; become reversed or inverted 4 to become upset or unsettled: said of the stomach IV. to change course or movement 1 to change one's or its course so as to be moving, going, etc. in a different direction; deviate 2 to reverse one's or its course; start to move, go, etc. in the opposite direction {the tide has turned} 3 to consult; refer (to) 4 to go or apply (to) for help V. to change in direction, trend, etc. 1 to change one's or its direction; face about; shift 2 to direct or shift one's attention, abilities, thoughts, etc. {to turn from one's work to a hobby} 3 to make a sudden attack (on or upon) {the dog turned on him} 4 to reverse one's feelings, attitude, allegiance, etc. {to turn against former friends} 5 to be contingent or depend (on or upon) 6 [Obs.] to vacillate VI. to become changed in nature or condition 1 to enter into a specified condition; become {to turn bitter with age} 2 to change into another form, type, or sort {the rain turned to sleet} 3 to become rancid, putrid, sour, etc. 4 to change color {leaves turning in the fall} •n. I. rotation, circular motion, etc. 1 the act of turning around; complete or partial rotation, as of a wheel; revolution 2 a) a winding of one thing around another b) a single twist, coil, winding, etc.; convolution 3 a) the condition of being twisted, bent, etc. in a circular form b) the direction of this 4 a musical ornament consisting usually of four tones, the second and fourth of which are the same, or principal, tone, the first, normally, being a degree above, and the third a degree below II. change of movement, direction, etc. 1 a change of position or posture, as by rotating motion 2 a change or reversal of course or direction {the turn of the tide} 3 a) a walk taken about a building, area, etc., as for inspection; tour b) a short walk or ride, returning to the starting place, as for exercise 4 the place where a change in direction occurs; bend; curve III. change of nature, condition, etc. 1 a) a change in trend, circumstances, events, policy, health, etc. {a turn for the better} b) TURNING POINT 2 the time of a chronological change {at the turn of the century} 3 a sudden, brief shock or fright; start IV. an occasional or repeated action, performance, etc. 1 an action that harms or, more usually, benefits another {to do someone a good turn} 2 a bout; spell; try {a turn at gardening} 3 an attack of illness, dizziness, rage, etc.; fit 4 the right, duty, or opportunity to do something, esp. as coming to each of a number of people in regular order {one's turn at bat} 5 [Brit.] a shift of work 6 a) a short performance given as part of a variety show; act b) its performer or performers Æ 7 Finance a transaction on the stock exchange involving both purchase and sale of particular securities V. trend, form, style, character, etc. 1 a distinctive form, manner, cast, detail, etc. {a quaint turn to her speech} 2 natural inclination or aptitude; flair {an inquisitive turn of mind} 3 a tendency; drift; trend {the discussion took a new turn} 4 a variation or interpretation of the original {to give an old story a new turn} SYN. CURVE at every turn in every instance; constantly by turns one after another; alternately; in succession Æ call the turn to predict successfully [term in faro, for guessing which card will be turned up] in turn in proper sequence or succession out of turn 1 not in proper sequence or order 2 at the wrong time; esp., unwisely or imprudently {to talk out of turn} take turns to speak, do, etc. one after another in regular order to a turn to just the right degree; perfectly turn and turn about one after another in regular order; by turns Also turn about turn down Æ 1 a) to reject (a request, advice, etc.) b) to reject the request, advice, etc. of (someone) 2 to lessen the intensity or volume of (light or sound) by manipulating controls turn in 1 to make a turn into; enter 2 to point (the toes) inward Æ 3 to deliver; hand in Æ 4 to inform on or hand over, as to the police 5 to give back; return 6 to fold over; double 7 [Colloq.] to go to bed turn off 1 to leave (a road, path, etc.) and enter another branching off 2 to branch off: said of a road, path, etc. 3 a) to stop a flow of (water, gas, electricity, etc.) b) to close (a faucet, valve, etc.) so as to stop a flow c) to make (an electrical device) stop functioning by operating the controls 4 to stop displaying or showing, suddenly or automatically {to turn off a smile} 5 to deflect; divert Æ 6 [Slang] to cause (someone) to become bored, depressed, uninterested, etc. 7 [Brit.] to discharge (an employee) turn on 1 a) to start a flow of (water, gas, electricity, etc.) b) to open (a faucet, valve, etc.) so as to start a flow c) to make (an electrical device) start functioning by operating the controls 2 to show or display suddenly or automatically {to turn on the charm} Æ 3 [Slang] a) to initiate in the use of a psychedelic drug b) to stimulate or be stimulated with or as with a psychedelic drug; make or become elated, euphoric, etc. c) to stimulate sexually d) to make interested, enthusiastic, etc. turn out 1 to put out (a light) 2 to put outside 3 to drive out; dismiss or discharge 4 to turn inside out 5 to come or go out, as to assemble somewhere 6 to produce as the result of work 7 to result; eventuate 8 to prove to be; be discovered to be 9 to come to be; become 10 to equip, dress, etc. 11 [Colloq.] to get out of bed turn over 1 to change the position of, as by rolling 2 to reverse the position of; turn upside down; invert 3 to shift one's position, as from one side to the other; roll over 4 to begin, or make begin, to operate, as an engine or motor 5 to think about carefully; ponder 6 to hand over; transfer 7 to relinquish; delegate 8 to put to a different use; convert 9 to sell and replenish (a stock of goods) 10 to buy and sell, or do business, to the amount of turn to to get to work; get busy turn up 1 to fold or bend back or over upon itself 2 to shorten (a dress, a sleeve, etc.) by folding back the bottom edge and making a new hem 3 to lift up or turn face upward, as to see the other side 4 to bring to light, as by digging 5 to increase the flow, speed, intensity, loudness, etc. of, as by turning a control 6 a) to make a turn onto and ascend (a street on a hill, etc.) b) to make a turn into any street or road 7 to have an upward direction 8 to come about; happen 9 to make an appearance; arrive 10 to be found [ME turnen < OE turnian & OFr turner, tourner, both < L tornare, to turn in a lathe, turn < tornus, lathe < Gr tornos, lathe, carpenter's compasses, akin to terein, to bore through: for IE base see THROW]

turnabout (tørn´э baut') •n. 1 the act of turning about, as to face the other way 2 a shift or reversal of allegiance, opinion, tendency, etc.; about-face

turn-and-bank indicator (tørn´ ænd bæŋk´) an airplane instrument that coordinates the rate of turn with the degree of bank to help the pilot avoid a slip or skid: also turn-and-slip indicator

turnaround (tørn´э raund') •n. 1 TURNABOUT 2 a wide area, as in a driveway, to allow for turning a vehicle around 3 the time needed to unload, refuel, service, and reload an aircraft 4 the time needed to complete a job, perform a service, etc., as for a customer

turnbuckle (tørn´bûk'эl) •n. 1 orig., a catch for shutters or casement windows 2 a metal sleeve with opposite internal threads at each end for the threaded ends of two rods or for ringbolts, forming a coupling that can be turned to tighten or loosen the rods or wires attached to the ringbolts

turncoat (tørn´kout') •n. a person who goes over to the opposite side or party; traitor [from the notion of a coat worn right side out or inside out, according to circumstances]

turndown (tørn´daun') •adj. 1 that can be turned down 2 having the upper part folded down {a turndown collar} •n. 1 a rejection; rebuff 2 a decline; downturn

Turner (tør´nэr) 1 Frederick Jackson 1861-1932; U.S. historian 2 J(oseph) M(allord) W(illiam) 1775-1851; Eng. painter 3 Nat 1800-31; U.S. slave, who led an abortive revolt (1831)

turner¹ (tørn´эr) •n. 1 a thing that turns or is used for turning {a pancake turner} 2 one who operates a lathe

turner² (tør´nэr, tur´nэr) •n. a gymnast or tumbler; esp., a member of a Turnverein [Ger < turnen, to engage in gymnastics < OHG, to turn < L tornare: see TURN]

Turner's syndrome a genetic disorder characterized by various deformities and abnormalities; esp., the absence of a female's second X chromosome, which prevents her from maturing sexually

turnery (tørn´эr i:) pl. -er·ies •n. the work or shop of a lathe operator [TURNER¹ + -Y4]

turning (tørn´iŋ) •n. 1 the action of a person or thing that turns 2 a place where a road turns or turns off 3 the art or process of shaping things on or as on a lathe

turning point 1 a point at which something changes direction 2 a point in time when a decisive change occurs

turnip (tør´nip) •n. 1 a) a biennial plant (Brassica rapa) of the crucifer family, with edible, hairy leaves and a roundish, light-colored, fleshy root used as a vegetable b) RUTABAGA 2 the root of either of these plants 3 [Old Slang] a pocket watch [earlier turnep, prob. < TURN or Fr tour, in the sense of turned, round + ME nepe < OE næp, turnip < L napus]

turnkey¹ (tørn´ki:') pl. -keys' •n. a person in charge of the keys of a prison; warder; jailer

turnkey² (-ki:') •adj. designating, of, or by a method of construction, installation, etc. whereby the contractor, installer, etc. assumes total responsibility from design through completion of the project [because the new owner of a housing-project unit so constructed need only turn the door key to take occupancy]

turnoff (tørn´öf') •n. 1 the act of turning off Æ 2 a place where one turns off; esp., a road or ramp leading off a highway 3 [Slang] someone or something regarded as being boring, uninteresting, distasteful, etc.

turn-on (-on') •n. [Slang] someone or something regarded as being interesting, exciting, arousing, etc.

turnout (tørn´aut') •n. 1 the act of turning out 2 a) a gathering of people, as for a meeting b) the number of people assembled 3 an amount produced; output 4 a) a wider part of a narrow road, enabling vehicles to pass one another b) an exit road c) a railroad siding 5 a carriage with its horse or horses 6 a) equipment b) a set of clothes; costume 7 Ballet a position in which the legs are turned outward, with the feet pointed in opposite directions

turnover (tørn´ou'vэr) •n. 1 the act or an instance of turning over; specif., a) an upset b) a change from one use, side, opinion, management, etc. to another 2 a small filled pastry made by folding one half of the crust back over the other half and sealing it 3 a) the number of times a stock of goods is sold and replenished in a given period of time b) the amount of business done during a given period of time in terms of the money used in buying and selling c) the number of shares sold in a stock market during a given period of time 4 a) the number of workers hired to replace those who have left during a given period of time b) the ratio of this to the average number of workers employed Æ 5 Basketball, Football a loss of possession of the ball by a team because of its own error •adj. that turns over {a turnover collar}

turnpike (tørn´paik') •n. 1 [Historical] a turnstile 2 TOLLGATE 3 a toll road, esp. one that is an expressway [ME turnpyke, a spiked barrier across a road: see TURN & PIKE4]

turnsole (tørn´soul') •n. 1 any of a number of plants whose flowers supposedly turn with the sun, as the sunflower and heliotrope 2 a) a Mediterranean plant (Chrozophora tinctoria) of the spurge family, yielding a purple or blue dye b) this dye [ME turnesole < MFr tournesol < It tornasole or Sp tornasol < tornar(e), to TURN + sol(e), sun: see SOL]

turnspit (tørn´spit') •n. 1 a person who turns a spit 2 [Historical] a small dog trained to turn a spit by means of a treadmill 3 a spit that can be turned

turnstile (tørn´stail') •n. 1 a post with revolving horizontal bars, placed in an entrance to allow the passage of persons but not of horses, cattle, etc. 2 a similar apparatus, often coin-operated, used to admit persons one at a time

turnstone (tørn´stoun') •n. any of a genus (Arenaria, family Scolopacidae) of small, migratory shorebirds, esp., the ruddy turnstone (A. interpres): so called because they turn over pebbles to seek food

turntable (tørn´tei'bэl) •n. a circular rotating platform; specif., a) a platform of this kind for supporting a phonograph record being played; also, such a platform together with the tonearm, cartridge, stylus, etc. b) a platform carrying track to turn a locomotive around

turnup (tørn´ûp') •n. something turned up; a turned-up part •adj. that turns up or is turned up

Turnverein (tuřn´feř ain'; E tørn´vэr ain', turn-) •n. a club of turners, or gymnasts [Ger < turnen, to exercise (see TURNER²) + verein, a union, association]

turpentine (tør´pэn tain') •n. 1 the brownish-yellow, sticky, semifluid oleoresin exuding from the terebinth 2 any of the various sticky, viscid oleoresins obtained from pines and other coniferous trees: in full gum turpentine 3 a colorless, volatile essential oil, C10H16, distilled from such oleoresins and used in paints, varnishes, etc., and in medicine: in full spirits (or oil) of turpentine •vt. -tined', -tin'ing 1 to apply turpentine to Æ 2 to extract turpentine from (trees) tur'pen·tin´ic (-tin´ik) or tur'pen·tin´ous (-tain´эs) •adj. [ME turpentyne < OFr terbentine < L terebinthinus, of the turpentine tree < terebinthus: see TEREBINTH]

Turpin (tør´pin), Dick 1706-39; Eng. highwayman: hanged

turpitude (tør´pi tu:d', -tyu:d') •n. 1 baseness; vileness; depravity 2 an instance of this [MFr < L turpitudo < turpis, base, vile < IE *trpis, from which one must turn < base *trep-, to turn away > Sans trapa, shame, embarrassment]

turps (tørps) •n. [Colloq.] short for TURPENTINE (n. 3)

turquoise (tør´kwoiz'; also, -koiz') •n. 1 a semiprecious stone, typically greenish-blue, a hydrous phosphate of aluminum containing a small amount of copper 2 the color of turquoise; greenish blue •adj. greenish-blue Also sp. tur´quois [ME turkeis < MFr turqueise, fem. of OFr turqueis, Turkish (see TURK): orig. brought to western Europe through Turkey]

turret (tør´it, tur´-) •n. 1 a small tower projecting from a building, usually at a corner and often merely ornamental 2 a wooden, usually square tower on wheels, carrying soldiers, battering-rams, catapults, etc., used in ancient warfare for attacking fortresses and walled cities 3 a) a low, armored, usually revolving, structure for a gun or guns, as on a warship, tank, or fortress b) a transparent dome for a gun and gunner, as on a bomber 4 an attachment for a lathe, drill, etc., consisting of a block holding several cutting tools, which may be rotated to present any of the tools to the work: also tur´ret·head' (-hed') 5 an adjustable device on a camera for holding various lenses [ME turet < OFr tourete, dim. of tour: see TOWER¹]

turreted (-id) •adj. 1 having a turret or turrets 2 shaped like a turret 3 having whorls forming a high, conical spiral, as some shells

turtle (tørt´ªl) pl. -tles or -tle •n. 1 any of a large and widely distributed order (Testudines) of terrestrial or aquatic reptiles having a toothless beak and a soft body encased in a tough shell into which, in most species, the head, tail, and four legs may be withdrawn: although aquatic, esp. marine, species are usually called turtle and land species are usually called tortoise, the terms are properly interchangeable for all species 2 the flesh of some turtles, used as food 3 short for TURTLENECK 4 archaic var. of TURTLEDOVE •vi. -tled, -tling to hunt for turtles turn turtle to turn upside down; capsize [altered, prob. infl. by TURTLE(DOVE) < Fr tortue, tortoise < VL *tartaruca: see TORTOISE]

turtleback (tørt´ªl bæk') •n. an arched structure built over the deck of a ship as a protection against heavy seas

turtledove (tørt´ªl dûv') •n. 1 any of several Old World wild doves (esp. genus Streptopelia) noted for their plaintive cooing and the affection that the mates are traditionally thought of as showing toward each other 2 MOURNING DOVE [ME < OE turtle, turtla < L turtur, of echoic orig.]

turtlehead (tørt´ªl hed') •n. Æ any of a genus (Chelone) of perennial North American plants of the figwort family, with showy, tubular, white or pink flowers

turtleneck (tørt´ªl nek') •n. Æ 1 a high, snugly fitting, turndown collar on a pullover sweater, shirt, etc. Æ 2 a sweater, shirt, etc. with such a collar

turves (tørvz) •n. archaic pl. of TURF

Tuscaloosa (tûs'kэ lu:´sэ) city in WC Ala., near Birmingham: pop. 78,000 [< Choctaw, name of a chief, lit., Black Warrior < taska, warrior + lusa, black]

Tuscan (tûs´kэn) •adj. 1 of Tuscany, its people, etc. 2 designating or of a classical (Roman) order of architecture, distinguished by its smooth columns with a ringlike capital and no decoration: see ORDER, illus. •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Tuscany 2 any of the Italian dialects of Tuscany, esp. that one accepted as standard literary Italian [ME < L Tuscanus < Tuscus, an Etruscan]

Tuscany (tûs´kэ ni:) region of central Italy, formerly a grand duchy: 8,876 sq. mi. (22,989 sq. km); pop. 3,581,000; chief city, Florence: It. name TOSCANA

Tuscarora (tûs'kэ rör´э) •n. 1 pl. -ras or -ra a member of a North American Indian people, orig. of North Carolina, but after 1714 of New York and later also Ontario: joined Iroquois Confederacy c. 1722 to become the sixth of the Six Nations 2 the Iroquoian language of this people [< a Five-Nations Iroquois language, an adaptation of Tuscarora skarò˙rðnر, lit., ? those of the Indian hemp]

tush¹ (tûsh) •interj., n. an exclamation expressing impatience, reproof, contempt, etc. [ME tussch]

tush² (tûsh) •n. 1 TUSK 2 any of the canine teeth of a horse [ME tusch < OE tucs: see TUSK]

tush³ (tush) •n. [Colloq.] the buttocks: also tush´ie (-i:) or tush´y [shortened & altered < Yidd tochus]

tushery (tûsh´э ri:) •n. high-flown, pretentious writing, usually larded with archaisms, like that in some sentimentalized historical novels [< TUSH¹: used by STEVENSON to refer to an affected archaic style of writing in romances]

tusk (tûsk) •n. 1 in elephants, wild boars, walruses, etc., a very long, large, pointed tooth, usually one of a pair, projecting outside the mouth and used for defense, digging up food, etc. 2 any tooth or projection suggestive of a tusk •vt. to dig, gore, etc. with a tusk or tusks SYN. TOOTH tusked (tûskt) •adj. tusk´like' (-laik') •adj. [ME, by metathesis < OE tucs, akin to OFris tusk < PGmc *tunth-ska < *tunth-, *tanth-: see TOOTH]

tusker (tûsk´эr) •n. an animal with tusks

tussah (tûs´э) •n. 1 an Asiatic silkworm (Antheraea paphia) that feeds on oak leaves and produces coarse, brownish silk filaments 2 a) this silk (in full tussah silk) b) a fabric made from this [Hindi tasar < Sans tasara, lit., a shuttle, kind of silkworm]

Tussaud (tu: sou´; popularly tэ söd´), Madame (born Marie Gresholtz) 1760-1850; Swiss waxworks exhibitor in London

tussis (tûs´is) •n. Med. a cough tus´sive (-iv) •adj. [L]

tussle (tûs´эl) -sled, -sling •vi. to fight, struggle, contend, etc. vigorously or vehemently; wrestle; scuffle •n. a vigorous or vehement struggle or contest; scuffle [LME tussillen, freq. of tusen (in comp.), to pull: see TOUSLE]

tussock (tûs´эk) •n. a thick tuft or clump of grass, sedge, twigs, etc. tus´sock·y (-i:) •adj. [< ?]

tussock moth any of a family (Lymantriidae) of moths whose caterpillars are covered with long tufts of hair: many, as the gypsy moth, are destructive pests of certain trees

tut (tût: conventionalized pronun.) •interj., n. a clicking or sucking sound made with the tongue, usually repeated one or more times, to express impatience, annoyance, mild rebuke, etc. •vi. tut´ted, tut´ting to utter tuts

Tutankhamen (tu:t'äŋk ä´mэn) fl. c. 1355 B.C.; Egypt. king of the 18th dynasty: tomb discovered in 1922: also sp. Tut'ankh·a´mun or Tut'ankh·a´mon: popularly called King Tut

tutee (tu: ti:´, tyu:-) •n. a person who is being tutored [TUT(OR) + -EE¹]

tutelage (tu:t´ªl ij, tyu:t´-) •n. 1 the function of a guardian; guardianship; care, protection, etc. 2 teaching; instruction 3 the condition of being under a guardian or tutor [< L tutela, protection < tutus (see TUTOR) + -AGE]

tutelary (tu:t´ªl er'i:, tyu:t´-) •adj. 1 that watches over or protects 2 of or serving as a guardian Also tu´te·lar (-эr) •n. pl. -lar´ies a tutelary god, spirit, etc. [L tutelarius < tutela: see TUTELAGE]

tutor (tu:t´эr, tyu:t´-) •n. 1 a) a teacher who gives individual instruction to a student; private teacher b) a person who gives remedial or supplemental instruction to another 2 a legal guardian of a minor 3 in English universities, a college official in charge of the studies of an undergraduate Æ 4 in some American universities and colleges, a teacher ranking below an instructor; teaching assistant •vt. 1 to act as a tutor to; teach; esp., to give individual instruction to 2 [Now Rare] to train under discipline; discipline; admonish •vi. 1 to act as a tutor, or instructor Æ 2 [Colloq.] to be instructed, esp. by a tutor tu´tor·age or tu´tor·ship' •n. [ME < MFr tuteur < L tutor < tutus for tuitus, pp. of tueri, to look after, guard]

tutorial (tu: tör´i: эl, tyu:-) •adj. of a tutor or tutors •n. 1 a class in a tutorial system 2 an intensive course given by a tutor or professor for one or several students, usually on a special topic [< L tutorius + -AL]

tutorial system a system of instruction, as in some universities, in which a tutor directs the studies of each of the small group of students assigned to him or her

tutoyer (tu:'twä yei´; Fr tü twå yei´) •vt. to speak to familiarly, as, in French, by using the singular forms (tu and toi) of you rather than the more formal plural form (vous) [Fr < MFr < tu (familiar form for you, thou < L: see THOU¹) + toi (acc. of tu) + -er, inf. ending]

Tutsi (tu:t´si:) pl. -sis •n.or -si var. of WATUSI

tutti (tu:t´i:) •adj. Musical Direction for all instruments or voices •n. pl. -tis 1 a musical passage played or sung by all performers 2 the tonal effect produced by playing such a passage [It (pl. of tutto), lit., all < VL *tottus for L totus, all, whole: see TOTAL]

tutti-frutti (tu:t´i: fru:t´i:) •n. 1 ice cream or other sweet food containing a mixture of chopped fruits, candied, dried, or fresh 2 a flavoring combining the flavors of a number of fruits [It, lit., all fruits: see TUTTI]

tut-tut see TUT •interj., n., vi.

tutty (tût´i:) •n. crude zinc oxide obtained from the flues of smelting furnaces [ME tutie < MFr < Ar tūtiyā, zinc oxide, prob. via Pers < Sans tuttha, blue vitriol]

tutu (tu:´tu:'; Fr tü tü´) •n. a very short, full, projecting skirt worn by ballerinas [Fr, orig. baby talk alteration < cul, bottom, backside: see BASCULE]

Tutuila (tu:t'u: i:´lэ) chief island of American Samoa, in the South Pacific: with nearby islets, 53 sq. mi. (138 sq. km); pop. 30,000; chief town, Pago Pago

Tuvalu (tu:'vэ lu:´) country consisting of a group of nine islands in the WC Pacific: a British protectorate since 1892, it became independent & a member of the Commonwealth (1978): 10 sq. mi. (26 sq. km); pop. 8,000; cap. Fongafale

tu-whit tu-whoo (tu: hwit´ tu: hwu:´; -wit´ tu: wu:´) the characteristic vocal sound made by an owl

tux (tûks) pl. tux´es •n. short for TUXEDO

tuxedo (tûk si:´dou) pl. -dos •n. 1 a man's semiformal jacket for evening wear, orig. black and with satin lapels; dinner jacket 2 a suit of such a jacket and dark trousers, worn with a dark bow tie •adj. designating or of a sofa, chair, etc. with a straight back and with sides the same height as the back [after the name of a country club at Tuxedo Park, near Tuxedo Lake, N.Y.]

Tuxtla (tu:st´lä') city in Chiapas state, SE Mexico: pop. 166,000: in full Tuxtla Gu·tiér·rez (gu: tyer´eis')

tuyère (twi: yer´, tu:-; twi:r; Fr tüi: yэř´) •n. the pipe or nozzle through which air is forced into a blast furnace, forge, etc. [Fr, nozzle < OFr tuyau, a pipe < Frank *thuta; akin to EFris tute, a pipe, tube]

TV (ti:´vi:´) •n. 1 television 2 pl. TVs or TV's a television receiving set

TV dinner a frozen, precooked dinner packaged in a compartmented tray for heating and serving [because it can conveniently be eaten while viewing television]

TVA Tennessee Valley Authority

Tver (tvyer) city in W European Russia, on the Volga: pop. 438,000

twa (twä) •adj., n. Scot. var. of TWO [ME (Northern & Scot) < OE, two]

twaddle (twäd´ªl) •n. foolish, empty talk or writing; nonsense •vt., vi. -dled, -dling to talk or write in a foolish or senseless manner; prattle twad´dler •n. [earlier twattle, prob. var. form of tattle, in twittle-twattle for TITTLE-TATTLE]

twain (twein) •adj., n. archaic var. of TWO [ME twene < OE twegen, nom. & acc. masc. form of twa, TWO] Twain (twein), Mark pseud. of Samuel Langhorne CLEMENS

twang (twæŋ) •n. 1 a) a quick, sharp, vibrating sound, as of a taut string suddenly plucked or released b) an act of plucking that makes this sound 2 a) a sharply nasal way of speaking; ringing, nasal quality b) a dialect characterized by this 3 [Dial.] a twinge •vi. 1 to make a twang, as a bowstring, banjo, etc. 2 to speak with a twang 3 to be released with a twang: said of an arrow •vt. 1 to cause to twang 2 to say with a twang 3 to shoot (an arrow), release (a bowstring), etc. with a twang Also [Rare] twan´gle (-gэl), -gled, -gling twang´y, -i·er, -i·est, •adj. [echoic]

'twas (twûz, twäz; unstressed, twэz) [Old Poet.] it was

twat (twät) •n. [Vulgar Slang] 1 the vulva 2 a woman or women collectively: a term of contempt and hostility [< ?]

twattle (twät´ªl) -tled, -tling •n., vt., vi. var. of TWADDLE

twayblade (twei´bleid') •n. any of various native, soil-inhabiting orchids (esp. genera Listera and Liparis) having opposite, paired leaves [archaic tway, two (ME twei, var. of twene: see TWAIN) + BLADE]

tweak (twi:k) •vt. to give a sudden, twisting pinch to (someone's nose, ear, cheek, etc.) •n. such a pinch [var. of dial. twick < ME twikken < OE twiccan, to TWITCH]

twee (twi:) •adj. [Brit., etc.] affectedly clever, dainty, elegant, etc.; mincingly cute or sweet [back-form. < tweet, in same sense < child's pronun. of SWEET]

Tweed (twi:d) river in SE Scotland flowing east through NE England into the North Sea: 97 mi. (156 km) Tweed (twi:d), William Mar·cy (mär´si:) 1823-78; U.S. politician & corrupt Tammany leader: called Boss Tweed tweed (twi:d) •n. 1 a wool fabric with a rough surface, in any of various twill weaves of two or more colors or shades 2 a suit, skirt, etc. of this 3 [pl.] clothes of tweed [< misreading of tweel, Scot form of TWILL: later assoc. with TWEED]

Tweeddale (twi:d´deil') PEEBLES

tweedle (twi:d´ªl) -dled, -dling •vi., vt. 1 to pipe, whistle, sing, etc. shrilly 2 to cajole or wheedle [infl. by WHEEDLE] [echoic of a reed pipe]

tweedledum and tweedledee (twi:d'ªl dûm´ ªn twi:d'ªl di:´) two persons or things so much alike as to be almost indistinguishable [T- and T-] two almost identical brothers in Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll [< prec. + dum & dee, echoic of musical notes: first used of two 18th-c. rival composers]

tweedy (twi:d´i:) tweed´i·er, tweed´i·est •adj. 1 of or like tweed 2 a) habitually wearing tweeds b) characterized by a casually tailored look, fondness for the outdoors, etc. of a person given to wearing tweeds tweed´i·ness •n.

'tween (twi:n) •prep. [Old Poet.] between [ME twene, aphetic for atwene, betwene, BETWEEN]

'tween deck Naut. any deck in a ship below the main deck

tweeny (twi:n´i:) pl. -ies •n. [Brit. Colloq.] a housemaid, esp. a scullery maid: now historical [< tween, aphetic for betweenmaid + -Y¹]

tweet (twi:t) •n., interj. the thin, chirping sound of a small bird, or a sound in imitation of it •vi. to make this sound [echoic]

tweeter (twi:t´эr) •n. a small, high-fidelity speaker for reproducing high-frequency sounds: cf. WOOFER

tweeze (twi:z) tweezed, tweez´ing •vt. to pluck with or as with tweezers [back-form. < TWEEZERS]

tweezer (twi:´zэr) •n. TWEEZERS [back-form. < fol.]

tweezers (twi:´zэrz) •n.pl. [also with sing. v.] small nippers, consisting of two arms, joined at one end, for plucking out hairs, handling little objects, etc.: often pair of tweezers [extended < obs. tweeze, surgical set, aphetic for Fr étuis, pl. of étui: see ETUI]

twelfth (twelfθ) •adj. 1 preceded by eleven others in a series; 12th 2 designating any of the twelve equal parts of something •n. 1 the one following the eleventh 2 any of the twelve equal parts of something; ¹/12 •adv. in the twelfth place, rank, group, etc. [ME twelfthe < OE twelfta: see TWELVE & -TH²]

Twelfth Day the twelfth day (Jan. 6) after Christmas; Epiphany: the evening before, or sometimes the evening of, this day is called Twelfth Night

twelve (twelv) •adj. totaling two more than ten •n. 1 the cardinal number between eleven and thirteen; 12; XII 2 any group of twelve persons or things; dozen 3 something numbered twelve or having twelve units, as a throw of dice, etc. the Twelve the Twelve Apostles [ME twelfe < OE twelf, akin to Ger zwölf, Goth twalif < PGmc *twa-lif < IE bases *dwōu (> TWO) & *likw- < base *leikw-, to leave behind > LOAN: orig. sense, two left (beyond ten): cf. ELEVEN]

Twelve Apostles the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus to go forth to teach the gospel: see APOSTLE (sense 2)

twelvefold (twelv´fould') •adj. 1 having twelve parts 2 having twelve times as much or as many •adv. twelve times as much or as many

twelvemo (-mou) pl. -mos •adj., n. DUODECIMO

twelvemonth (-mûnθ') •n. [Chiefly Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.)] archaic term for one year

twelve-tone (-toun´) •adj. Music designating or of a system or technique of serial composition, developed by Arnold Schönberg, in which the twelve tones of the chromatic scale are arranged into some arbitrary, fixed succession (tone row) which then forms a basis for development

twentieth (twent´i: iθ; often twen´i:-) •adj. 1 preceded by nineteen others in a series; 20th 2 designating any of the twenty equal parts of something •n. 1 the one following the nineteenth 2 any of the twenty equal parts of something; ¹/20 •adv. in the twentieth place, rank, group, etc. [ME twentithe, new formation for OE twentigotha: see TWENTY & -TH²]

twenty (twent´i:; often twen´i:) •adj. two times ten •n. pl. -ties 1 the cardinal number between nineteen and twenty-one; 20; XX Æ 2 [Colloq.] a twenty-dollar bill the twenties the numbers or years, as of a century, from twenty through twenty-nine [ME twenti < OE twegentig, lit., two tens (akin to Ger zwanzig, Goth twai tigjus) < twegen, TWAIN + -tig, -TY²]

twentyfold (-fould') •adj. 1 having twenty parts 2 having twenty times as much or as many •adv. twenty times as much or as many [prec. + -FOLD]

twenty-one (-wûn´) •n. Æ the gambling game BLACKJACK (n. 5a)

twenty-twenty (or 20/20) vision (twent´i: twent´i:) normal acuity of vision, which is the ability to see clearly at twenty feet what the normal eye sees at that distance

'twere (twør) [Old Poet.] it were {if 'twere time}

twerp (twørp) •n. [Slang] a person regarded as insignificant, contemptible, presumptuous, ridiculous, etc. [ult. < ? or akin to Dan tver, perverse: for IE base see THWART]

Twi (twi:) •n. a language belonging to the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo languages and spoken principally in Ghana

twibill or twibil (twai´bil') •n. 1 a double-bladed battle-ax 2 [Brit. Dial.] a kind of mattock [ME twibil < OE < twi-, two + bil, BILL³]

twice (twais) •adv. 1 on two occasions or in two instances 2 two times 3 two times as much or as many; twofold; doubly [ME twies < OE twiges < twiga, twice, akin to twa, TWO + -es, gen. sing. ending]

twice-laid (-leid´) •adj. 1 made from strands of old rope 2 made from remnants or used material

twice-told (-tould´) •adj. 1 told twice 2 told so often as to be hackneyed or trite

Twickenham (twik´эn эm) former borough in Middlesex, England, near London: now part of Richmond-on-Thames: pop. 102,000

twiddle (twid´ªl) -dled, -dling •vt. to twirl or play with lightly or idly •vi. 1 to toy or trifle with some object 2 to be busy about trifles 3 to move in a twirling manner •n. a light, twirling motion, as with the thumbs twiddle one's thumbs 1 to twirl one's thumbs idly around each other 2 to do nothing; be idle twid´dler •n. twid´dly •adj. [prob. < TW(IST) or TW(IRL) + (D)IDDLE¹]

twig¹ (twig) •n. a small, slender branch or shoot of a tree or shrub [ME twigge < OE, akin to Ger zweig < IE *dwigho- < base *dwöu-, TWO: prob. with reference to the forking of the twig]

twig² (twig) twigged, twig´ging •vt., vi. [Brit., etc. Colloq.] 1 to observe; notice 2 to understand [via thieves' slang < Ir tuigim, I understand]

twiggy (twig´i:) -gi·er, -gi·est •adj. 1 slender, delicate, etc. like a twig 2 full of or covered with twigs

twilight (twai´lait') •n. 1 a) the subdued light just after sunset or, in less common usage, just before sunrise b) the period from sunset to dark 2 any growing darkness 3 a condition or period of gradual decline following full development, achievement, glory, etc. •adj. of or like twilight; dim, obscure, etc. [ME < twi-, two, twice (but meaning here uncert.) + LIGHT¹; akin to Ger zwielicht]

Twilight of the Gods see RAGNAROK

twilight sleep a state of partial anesthesia induced by the injection of morphine and scopolamine, formerly used to lessen the pains of childbirth [transl. of Ger dämmerschlaf]

twilight zone 1 a state of mind between reality and fantasy; dreamlike or hallucinatory state 2 a vague or uncertain state or condition {a twilight zone between right and wrong}

twilit (twai´lit') •adj. full of or bathed in the softly diffused light of twilight

twill (twil) •n. 1 a cloth woven so as to have parallel diagonal lines or ribs 2 the pattern of this weave or its appearance •vt. to weave so as to produce a twill [ME twyll < OE twilic, woven of double thread (akin to OHG zwilih) < WGmc partial transl. (with twi-, two) of L bilix, with a double thread < bi-, BI-¹ + licium, a thread]

'twill (twil) [Old Poet.] it will

twin (twin) •adj. 1 a) consisting of or being two separate but similar or closely related things; forming a pair; double; paired {twin beds} b) being one of a pair of such things; being a counterpart 2 a) being two that have been born at the same birth {twin girls} b) being either one of two born at the same birth {a twin sister} •n. 1 either one of two born at the same birth: twins are either identical (produced from the same ovum) or fraternal (produced from separate ova) 2 either one of two persons or things very much alike in appearance, shape, structure, etc. 3 a compound crystal of two crystals or parts having a common face but in reversed positions with respect to each other •vi. twinned, twin´ning 1 to give birth to twins 2 to be paired or coupled (with another) 3 [Archaic] to be born at the same birth •vt. 1 to give birth to as twins 2 to be or provide a counterpart 3 to pair or couple [T-] [pl.] Gemini, the constellation and third sign of the zodiac [ME < OE twinn & ON tvinnr, double, both < base of TWO]

twin bed either of a pair of single beds

twin bill [Colloq.] 1 DOUBLE FEATURE 2 DOUBLE-HEADER (sense 1)

Twin Cities name for Minneapolis & St. Paul, Minn.

twin set a matching pair of women's sweaters, a pullover and a cardigan, intended to be worn together Also twin´set'

twinberry (twin´ber'i:) pl. -ries •n. 1 a North American variety of honeysuckle (Lonicera involucrata) with purple flowers 2 PARTRIDGEBERRY

twinborn (-börn´) •adj. born as a twin or twins

twine (twain) •n. 1 strong thread, string, or cord of two or more strands twisted together 2 a twining or being twined 3 a twined thing or part; twist; convolution 4 a tangle; snarl 5 a twining branch or spray of a plant •vt. twined, twin´ing [ME twinen < the n.] 1 a) to twist together; intertwine; interlace b) to form by twisting, intertwining, or interlacing 2 to encircle or wreathe (one thing) with another 3 to wind (something) around something else 4 to enfold, embrace, etc. {a wreath twining his brow} •vi. 1 to twist, interlace, etc. 2 to twist and turn [ME twin < OE twin, twigin, double thread, akin to twegen, TWAIN]

twin-engined (twin´en´jэnd) •adj. powered by two engines: said of an airplane Also twin´-en´gine

twinflower (-flau'эr) •n. a trailing plant (Linnaea borealis) of the honeysuckle family, with glossy leaves and small, fragrant, pink, bell-shaped flowers growing in pairs

twinge (twinj) twinged, twing´ing •vt. to cause to have a sudden, brief, darting pain or pang •vi. to feel a sudden, brief, darting pain or pang •n. 1 a sudden, brief, darting pain or pang 2 a sudden, brief feeling of remorse, shame, etc.; qualm [ME twengen < OE twengan, to squeeze, press, pinch; akin to MHG twengen, to pinch, squeeze (< OHG dwengen, caus. of dwingan, to constrain) & OE thwang, a thong, prob. < IE base *tuengh-, to constrain]

twi-night or twinight (twai´nait') •adj. Baseball designating a double-header that starts in the late afternoon and continues into the evening [TWI(LIGHT) + NIGHT]

twinkle (twiŋk´эl) -kled, -kling •vi. 1 to shine with quick, intermittent flashes of light, as some stars; sparkle 2 to light up, as with amusement: said of the eyes 3 to move about or back and forth quickly and lightly, as a dancer's feet; flicker 4 [Archaic] to wink or blink •vt. 1 to make twinkle 2 to emit (light) in quick, intermittent flashes •n. 1 a flicker or wink of the eye 2 a quick flash of amusement, etc. in the eye 3 a quick, intermittent flash of light; sparkle 4 the very brief time it takes to wink; twinkling twin´kler •n. [ME twinklen < OE twinclian, freq. of base seen in MHG zwinken, to wink]

twinkling (twiŋk´liŋ) •n. 1 the action of a thing that twinkles 2 a) the winking of an eye b) the very brief time it takes to wink; instant

twinned (twind) •adj. 1 born as a twin or twins 2 paired or coupled 3 consisting of two crystals forming a twin

twinning (twin´iŋ) •n. 1 the bearing of twins 2 a pairing or coupling 3 the formation of a twin crystal or crystals

twins GEMINI (senses 1 & 2)

twin-screw (twin´skru:´) •adj. having two screw propellers, usually rotating in opposite directions, as some ships

twirl (twørl) •vt., vi. 1 to rotate rapidly; spin 2 to turn rapidly in a circle; whirl around 3 to twist or coil {to twirl one's mustache} Æ 4 Baseball to pitch •n. 1 a twirling or being twirled 2 something twirled; specif., a) a twist, coil, etc. b) a twisting line; flourish twirl´er •n. [prob. < Scand, as in Norw dial. tvirla, to twirl, akin to OE thwirel, stirring rod < IE base *twer-, to whirl, stir up > TURBID]

twirp (twørp) •n. [Slang] alt. sp. of TWERP

twist (twist) •vt. 1 a) to wind (two or more threads or strands) around one another, as by spinning b) to wind two or more threads or strands of (cotton, silk, etc.) around one another so as to produce thread or cord c) to produce (thread, cord, etc.) in this way 2 to wreathe; twine 3 to wind or coil (thread, rope, etc.) around something 4 to encircle with a coil of 5 to entwine or interweave in something else 6 to make (one's or its way) by turning one way and then another 7 to give spiral shape to by turning the ends in opposite directions 8 a) to subject to torsion b) to put out of shape in this manner; wrench; sprain {to twist one's ankle} 9 a) to contort or distort (the face, etc.) b) to cause to be malformed {fingers twisted with arthritis} 10 to cause to become confused or mentally or emotionally disturbed 11 to distort or pervert the meaning of 12 to cause to turn around or rotate 13 to break off by turning the end: often with off •vi. 1 to undergo twisting and thus take on a spiral or coiled form {the wire twists easily} 2 to spiral, coil, twine, etc. (around or about something) 3 to revolve or rotate 4 to turn to one side; change direction 5 to turn one way and then another, as a path; wind; meander 6 to squirm; writhe 7 to move in a curved path, as a ball given a spinning motion Æ 8 to dance the twist •n. 1 the number of turns given to a specified length of fiber, thread, cord, etc. along its axis 2 a strong, closely twisted silk thread used for making buttonholes, etc. Æ 3 tobacco leaves twisted into the shape of a roll 4 a loaf of bread or a roll made of one or more twisted pieces of dough 5 a knot, etc. made by twisting 6 a sliver of peel from a lemon, lime, etc. twisted and added to a drink for flavor 7 rotation; spin, turn, twirl, etc. 8 a spin given to a ball in throwing or striking it 9 spiral movement along and around an axis 10 a) the condition of being twisted in a spiral; torsional stress b) the degree of this; angle of torsion 11 a contortion, as of the face 12 a wrench or sprain 13 a turning aside; turn; bend 14 a place at which something twists or turns {a twist in the road} 15 a personal tendency, esp. an eccentric one; quirk 16 distortion or perversion, as of meaning 17 an unexpected direction given to or taken by a situation 18 a special or different meaning, method, or slant {a new twist to an old story} Æ 19 a rock-and-roll dance characterized by movement of the arms and hips while standing in one place 20 [Slang] a girl or woman SYN. CURVE [ME twisten < OE -twist, a rope (in mæst-twist, rope to stay a mast), akin to TWAIN, TWINE, ON tvistra, to separate, Ger zwist, a quarrel < IE *duis-, apart < base *dwōu-, TWO]

twist drill a kind of drill with deep helical grooves for carrying out chips and shavings

twister (twist´эr) •n. 1 a person who twists 2 a thing that twists; specif., a) a machine for twisting threads, etc. b) a thrown or batted ball that has been given a twist Æ 3 [Colloq.] a tornado or cyclone

twit¹ (twit) twit´ted, twit´ting •vt. to reproach, tease, taunt, etc., esp. by reminding of a fault or mistake •n. 1 the act of twitting 2 a reproach or taunt [aphetic < ME atwiten, to twit < OE ætwitan < æt, at + witan, to accuse, akin to witan, to know: see WISE¹]

twit² (twit) •n. [Brit., etc. Colloq.] a foolish, contemptible person [< ?]

twit³ (twit) •n. Æ a state of nervous excitement [< TWITTER¹]

twitch (twich) •vt., vi. 1 to pull (at) with a quick, slight jerk; pluck 2 to move with a quick, slight jerk or jerks or spasmodically 3 to ache with a sudden, sharp pain •n. 1 a quick, slight jerk 2 a sudden, quick motion, esp. a spasmodic one; tic {a facial twitch} 3 a sudden, sharp pain; twinge [ME twicchen < OE *twiccan, var. of twiccian, to pluck, catch hold of: akin to Ger zwicken < WGmc *twikkjon < ? base of TWIG¹]

twitchy (twich´i:) •adj. [Colloq.] nervous; jittery

twitter¹ (twit´эr) •vi. 1 to make a series of light, sharp, intermittent vocal sounds; chirp continuously or tremulously, as birds do 2 a) to talk in a rapid, tremulous manner expressive of agitation, timidity, etc.; chatter b) to giggle or titter 3 to tremble with excitement, eagerness, etc. •vt. to express or say in a twittering manner •n. 1 a light, sharp, intermittent vocal sound of a bird; chirping 2 any similar sound 3 a condition of trembling excitement; flutter twit´ter·er •n. twit´ter·y •adj. [ME twiteren, akin to Ger zwitschern: orig. echoic]

twitter² (twit´эr) •n. a person who twits

'twixt (twikst) •prep. [Old Poet.] betwixt; between

two (tu:) •adj. totaling one more than one •n. 1 the cardinal number between one and three; 2; II 2 any two people or things; pair; couple 3 something numbered two or having two units, as a playing card, domino, face of a die, etc. in two in two parts; asunder put two and two together to reach an obvious conclusion by considering several facts together [ME two, tu < OE twa, fem. & neut., tu, neut., akin to Ger zwei < IE base *dwōu-, two > L duo, two, Gr duo, Sans dvau]

two bits [Colloq.] twenty-five cents [see TWO-BIT]

Two Sicilies (sis´i li:z') a former kingdom including Naples (with lower Italy) and Sicily: united with the Kingdom of Italy in 1861

two-base hit (tu:´beis´) Baseball a hit on which the batter can reach second base Also [Slang] two-bag´ger (-bæg´эr) •n.

two-bit (tu:´bit´) •adj. 1 [Colloq.] worth or costing twenty-five cents 2 [Slang] a) cheap; gaudy; tawdry b) mediocre, inferior, or insignificant [see BIT², n. 2]

two-by-four (tu:´bai för', -bэ-) •adj. 1 that measures two inches by four inches, two feet by four feet, etc. 2 [Colloq.] small, narrow, cramped, etc. •n. any length of lumber two inches thick and four inches wide when untrimmed: in the building trades, applied to a trimmed piece 1½ by 3½ inches

two-cycle (tu:´sai´kэl) •adj. TWO-STROKE

two-edged (-ejd´) •adj. 1 that has two cutting edges 2 that can be used or taken two ways, as a remark

two-faced (tu:´feist') •adj. 1 having two faces, surfaces, etc. 2 deceitful; hypocritical two'-fac´ed·ly (-feis´id li:) •adv.

twofer (tu:´fэr) •n. [Colloq.] a pair of (theater tickets, phonograph records, etc.) sold for, or for approximately, the price of one [altered < two for]

two-fisted (tu:´fist´id) •adj. [Colloq.] 1 having, and able to use, both fists Æ 2 vigorous; virile

twofold (tu:´fould') •adj. 1 having two parts; double; dual 2 having twice as much or as many •adv. twice as much or as many [TWO + -FOLD]

two-four (tu:´för´) •adj. designating or of a musical rhythm with two quarter notes to a measure

two-handed (-hæn´did) •adj. 1 that needs to be used or wielded with both hands 2 needing two people to operate {a two-handed saw} 3 for two people {a two-handed card game} 4 having two hands 5 able to use both hands equally well; ambidextrous

two-legged (-leg´id, -legd´) •adj. having two legs

twopence (tûp´эns) •n. 1 the sum of two pence 2 a British coin of this value

twopenny (tûp´э ni:; also, esp. of nails, tu:´pen'i:) •adj. 1 worth or costing twopence 2 designating a nail that is one inch long 3 cheap; worthless

two-phase (tu:´feiz') •adj. Elec. QUARTER-PHASE

two-piece (tu:´pi:s´) •adj. consisting of two separate parts {a two-piece bathing suit}

two-ply (-plai´) •adj. 1 having two thicknesses, layers, strands, etc. 2 woven double

two-shot (-shät') •n. Film a medium-range camera shot of two persons

two-sided (tu:´said´id) •adj. 1 having two sides 2 having two aspects {a two-sided question}

twosome (tu:´sэm) •adj. of or engaged in by two •n. 1 two people together; a couple 2 Golf a) a match or round engaged in by two players b) the players [TWO + -SOME²]

two-step (tu:´step') •n. 1 an early 20th-cent. ballroom dance in 2/4 time, like a slow fox trot 2 a piece of music for this dance •vi. -stepped', -step'ping to dance the two-step

two-stroke (tu:´strouk´) •adj. designating or having to do with an internal-combustion engine in which a complete fuel cycle in a cylinder requires only two piston strokes

two-suiter (tu:´su:t´эr) •n. a man's suitcase designed to hold two suits as well as other clothing, etc.

two-time (tu:´taim') -timed', -tim'ing •vt. [Slang] to deceive or double-cross; esp., to be unfaithful to (one's wife or husband, or one's lover) two´-tim'er •n.

two-tone (tu:´toun´) •adj. of or having two colors or two hues of a color

'twould (twud) [Old Poet.] it would

two-way (tu:´wei´) •adj. 1 having separate lanes for vehicles going in opposite directions {a two-way street} 2 involving reciprocity, mutual obligation, etc. {a two-way cultural exchange, contract, etc.} 3 involving two persons, groups, etc. {a two-way political race} 4 a) used for both transmission and reception {a two-way radio} b) moving, operating, or allowing movement in either of two directions {a two-way faucet, two-way stretch, etc.} 5 adapted for use in either of two ways; esp., reversible {a two-way raincoat}

Twp township

TX Texas

-ty¹ (ti:, ti) suffix quality of, condition of {realty} [ME -tee, -tie, -te < OFr -té < L -tas]

-ty² (ti:, ti) suffix tens, times ten {sixty} [ME -ti, -tie < OE -tig, akin to Ger -zig, Goth tigus, ten, L -ta < IE *dek##t-mi(s), dat. pl. < *de##, TEN]

Tyche (tai´ki:) Gr. Myth. the goddess of chance: identified with the Roman Fortuna [Gr Tychē, akin to teuchein, to prepare < IE base *dheugh-, to press > DOUGHTY]

tycoon (tai ku:n´) •n. 1 a title applied by foreigners to the former shogun of Japan 2 a wealthy and powerful industrialist, financier, etc. [SinoJpn taikun, term of respect for an emperor < tai, great (< Cantonese) + kun, monarch (< Cantonese kuan, official)]

Tydeus (tai´di: эs, tid´i:-) Gr. Legend the father of Diomedes and one of the SEVEN AGAINST THEBES [L < Gr]

Tygon (tai´gän') trademark for any of a group of vinyl compounds used as a lining or coating on metal surfaces, as tubing, etc., to prevent corrosion [arbitrary coinage]

tying (tai´iŋ) •vt., vi. prp. of TIE

tyke (taik) •n. 1 [Colloq.] a small child 2 [Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.)] a) a dog, esp. a mongrel b) [Dial.] a boor [ME tike < ON tik, a bitch < IE base *digh-, goat > OE ticcen, a kid]

Tyler (tai´lэr) city in E Tex.: pop. 75,000 [after John TYLER] Tyler (tai´lэr) 1 John 1790-1862; 10th president of the U.S. (1841-45) 2 Wat (wät) died 1381; Eng. rebel: leader of the Peasants' Revolt: also Walter Tyler

tympan (tim´pэn) •n. 1 orig., a drum 2 the paper, cardboard, etc. stretched over the platen or impression cylinder of a printing press to cushion the paper being printed and equalize type pressure 3 any membranelike part 4 Archit. TYMPANUM [ME < OE timpana & OFr tympan < L tympanum < Gr tympanon, a drum, area of a pediment, panel of a door < typtein, to strike, beat < IE *(s)teup-, to strike > STEEP¹]

tympani (tim´pэ ni:) sing. -no' (-nou') •n.pl. alt. sp. of TIMPANI tym´pa·nist •n.

tympanic (tim pæn´ik) •adj. 1 of or like a drum or drumhead 2 Anat., Zool. of the tympanum, esp. the eardrum

tympanic bone a bone in the skull of mammals, supporting the eardrum and partly enclosing the middle ear

tympanic membrane a thin membrane that separates the middle ear from the external ear and vibrates when struck by sound waves; eardrum

tympanites (tim'pэ nait´i:z') •n. a distention of the abdomen by the accumulation of gas or air in the intestines or peritoneal cavity tym'pa·nit´ic (-nit´ik) •adj. [ME < LL < Gr tympanitēs < tympanon: see TYMPAN]

tympanitis (-nait´is) •n. otitis media: see OTITIS

tympanum (tim´pэ nэm) pl. -nums or -na (-nэ) •n. 1 Anat. a) MIDDLE EAR b) TYMPANIC MEMBRANE 2 Zool. a) a drumlike structure serving as a vibratory membrane for the hearing organs of certain insects b) the resonating chamber of the syrinx in birds 3 a drum or drumhead 4 Archit. a) the recessed space, usually triangular, enclosed by the slanting cornices of a pediment, often ornamented with sculpture b) a corresponding semicircular space enclosed by an arch and the top of the door or window below it 5 Elec. the diaphragm of a telephone [L: see TYMPAN]

tympany (tim´pэ ni:) pl. -nies •n. 1 inflated or distended condition 2 bombast; pomposity [ML tympanias < Gr < tympanon, drum: see TYMPAN]

Tyndale (tin´dэl), William c. 1494-1536; Eng. religious reformer & translator of the Bible: executed for heresy

Tyndall effect (tin´dэl) Physics the scattering and polarization of a light beam by colloidal particles in a dispersed system [after John Tyndall (1820-93), Brit physicist]

Tyndareus (tin der´i: эs) Gr. Myth. a king of Sparta, husband of LEDA [L < Gr Tyndareos]

Tyne (tain) river in N England, flowing east into the North Sea: c. 30 mi. (48 km)

Tyne and Wear (tain' эnd wir´) county of N England, on the Tyne River & the North Sea: 209 sq. mi. (540 sq. km); pop. 1,145,000

Tynemouth (tain´mauth'; tin´-) seaport in Tyne and Wear, N England, at the mouth of the Tyne: pop. 72,000

typ 1 typographer 2 typographical 3 typography

typal (taip´эl) •adj. 1 of or pertaining to a type 2 serving as a type; typical

type (taip) •n. 1 a person, thing, or event that represents or symbolizes another, esp. another that it is thought will appear later; symbol; token; sign 2 [Rare] a distinguishing mark, sign, or impress 3 the general form, structure, plan, style, etc. characterizing or distinguishing the members of a class or group 4 a kind, class, or group having distinguishing characteristics in common [a new type of airplane, an animal of the dog type]: in colloquial usage, often used elliptically immediately preceding the noun [a new type airplane] 5 a person, animal, or thing that is representative of, or has the distinctive characteristics of, a class or group; typical individual or instance 6 a perfect example; model; pattern; archetype 7 [Colloq.] an odd or eccentric person; character 8 Agric. the combination of characters of an animal or breed that make it most suitable for a particular use {beef type, dairy type} 9 Biol. a) the single specimen designated as the one on which the original description and name of a taxon has been based b) TYPE GENUS or TYPE SPECIES 10 Math. the simplest of a set of equivalent forms 11 Printing a) a rectangular piece of metal or, esp. formerly, wood, with a raised letter, figure, etc. in reverse on its upper end which, when inked and pressed against a piece of paper or other material, as in a printing press or on a typewriter, leaves an ink impression of its face; also, such pieces collectively or the characters printed from them b) a character or characters formed electronically and produced by a computer printer c) photographic reproductions of print used in photocomposition d) a particular face of type •vt. typed, typ´ing 1 [Now Rare] a) to prefigure b) to typify; represent 2 to classify according to type {to be typed as a villain in the theater} 3 to write with a typewriter; typewrite 4 Med. to determine the type of (a blood sample) •vi. to use a typewriter typ´a·ble or type´a·ble •adj. [LL(Ec) typus, a model, symbol < L & Gr: L, a figure < Gr typos, a figure, archetype, model, orig., a blow, mark made by a blow < typtein: see TYMPAN]

-type (taip) combining form 1 type, representative form, example {phonotype, stereotype} 2 stamp, print, printing type {ferrotype, monotype} [Fr < Gr -typon < typos: see TYPE]

Type A a personality type characterized by tenseness, drive, aggression, etc., traits thought to make one more susceptible to heart attacks [first used (c. 1974) by M. Friedman & R. Rosenman, U.S. physicians]

Type B a personality type characterized by serenity, relaxation, amiability, etc., traits thought to make one less susceptible to heart attacks [see TYPE A]

type founder a person who casts metal type

type foundry a place where metal type is cast

type genus Biol. the particular genus whose name serves as the base for the family name

type metal an alloy of tin, lead, and antimony, and sometimes copper, used for making type, etc.

type species Biol. the particular species from which the genus is named

type specimen TYPE (n. 9a)

typebar (taip´bär') •n. any of the slender bars to which are fastened the raised letters, figures, etc. in some typewriters

typecast (taip´kæst') -cast', -cast'ing •vt. to cast (an actor) repeatedly in the same type of part, or in the part of a character whose traits are very much like the actor's own

type-cast (taip´kæst') -cast', -cast'ing •vt., vi. to cast (type) type´-cast'er •n.

typeface (taip´feis') •n. FACE (n. 13)

type-high (taip´hai´) •adj. exactly as high as type of standard height (.9186 inch)

typescript (-skript') •n. typewritten matter or copy

typeset (taip´set') -set', -set'ting •vt. to set in type; compose [back-form. < fol.]

typesetter (-set'эr) •n. 1 a person who sets type; compositor 2 a machine for setting type type´set'ting •n., adj.

typewrite (taip´rait') -wrote', -writ'ten, -writ'ing •vt., vi. to write with a typewriter: now usually shortened to type [back-form. < fol.]

typewriter (taip´rait'эr) •n. 1 a writing machine with a keyboard, for reproducing letters or figures that resemble printed ones 2 a style of printer's type that looks like a typewriter print 3 early term for TYPIST [TYPE + WRITER: so named (1867), prob. by C. L. Sholes (1819-1890), U.S. journalist, who patented the first practical machine (1868)]

typewriting (-rait'iŋ) •n. 1 the art, act, or process of using a typewriter 2 writing done on a typewriter

typhlitis (tif lait´is) •n. [Obs.] inflammation of the cecum typh·lit´ic (-lit´ik) •adj. [ModL < Gr typhlon, cecum < typhlos, blind, closed (< IE *dhubh-, cloudy, dark < base *dheu-, to be turbid > DULL) + ModL -itis, -ITIS]

typho- (tai´fou, -fэ) combining form typhus, typhoid {typhogenic} Also, before a vowel, typh- [< Gr typhos: see TYPHUS]

Typhoeus (tai fou´i: эs, -yu:s'; -fi:´эs) Gr. Myth. a monster with a hundred heads, killed by Zeus Ty·pho´e·an (-fou´i: эn, -fi:´эn) •adj. [L < Gr Typhōeus]

typhoid (tai´foid') •n. 1 orig., any typhuslike disorder 2 an acute infectious disease caused by a bacillus (Salmonella typhi) and acquired by ingesting food or water contaminated by excreta: it was formerly considered a form of typhus and is characterized by fever, intestinal disorders, etc.: in full typhoid fever ty·phoi´dal •adj. [TYPH(US) + -OID]

Typhoid Mary 1 a person who is a carrier of typhoid 2 a person who spreads any kind of disease, infection, or corruption [orig. nickname for Mary Mallon (died 1938), typhoid-carrying cook in New York]

Typhon (tai´fän') Gr. Myth. a monster, variously regarded as a son of Typhoeus or as Typhoeus himself [L < Gr Typhōn, lit., whirlwind: see TYPHOON]

typhoon (tai fu:n´) •n. any violent tropical cyclone originating in the W Pacific, esp. in the South China Sea ty·phon´ic (-fän´ik) •adj. [< Chin dial. tai-fung, lit., great wind (or < ? Tai, Formosa: hence, Formosa wind); merged with earlier tuphan, tufan < Port tufão < Ar tūfān < Gr typhōn, hurricane, akin to typhos: see TYPHUS]

typhus (tai´fэs) •n. an acute infectious disease caused by various rickettsiae (esp. Rickettsia prowazekii) transmitted to people by the bite of fleas, lice, etc., and characterized by fever, headache, and an eruption of red spots on the skin: in full typhus fever ty´phous (-fэs) •adj. [ModL < Gr typhos, vapor, fever, stupor, akin to typhein, to smoke, be cloudy < IE base *dheu-: see DULL]

typical (tip´i kэl) •adj. 1 serving as a type; symbolic 2 having or showing the characteristics, qualities, etc. of a kind, class, or group so fully as to be a representative example 3 of or belonging to a type or representative example; characteristic Also typ´ic SYN. NORMAL typ´i·cal·ly •adv. typ´i·cal·ness or typ'i·cal´i·ty (-kæl´э ti:) •n. [ML typicalis < L typicus < Gr typikos]

typify (tip´i fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. 1 to be a type or emblem of; symbolize; prefigure 2 to have or show the distinctive characteristics of; be typical of; exemplify typ'i·fi·ca´tion •n. typ´i·fi'er •n. [see TYPE & -FY]

typist (taip´ist) •n. a person who operates a typewriter, esp. one whose work is typing

typo (tai´pou) pl. -pos •n. [Colloq.] a typographical error; mechanical mistake made in setting type or in typing

typo- (tai´pou, tai´pэ) combining form type {typography, typology} [< Gr typos: see TYPE]

typo or typog abbrev. 1 typographer 2 typographic 3 typographical 4 typography

typographer (tai päg´rэ fэr) •n. a person skilled in typography; printer, compositor, etc.

typographical (tai'pou græf´i kэl, -pэ-) •adj. of typography; having to do with the setting of type, printing, typing, inputting, etc.: also ty'po·graph´ic ty'po·graph´i·cal·ly •adv.

typography (tai päg´rэ fi:) •n. 1 the art or process of printing from type 2 the art or process of setting and arranging type for printing 3 the arrangement, style, or general appearance of matter printed from type [Fr typographie < ML typographia: see TYPO- & -GRAPHY]

typology (tai päl´э ji:) •n. 1 the study of types, symbols, or symbolism 2 symbolic meaning or representation; symbolism ty'po·log´i·cal (-läj´i kэl) •adj. [TYPO- + -LOGY]

Tyr (tir, tür) Norse Myth. the god of war and son of Odin, noted for his courage [ON: for IE base see TIU]

tyramine (tai´rэ mi:n', -min) •n. a crystalline amine, C8H11NO, found in ergot, cheeses, mistletoe, etc., and formerly used in the treatment of hypotension [TYR(OSINE) + AMINE]

tyrannical (tэ ræn´i kэl, ti-, tai-) •adj. 1 of or suited to a tyrant; arbitrary; despotic 2 harsh, cruel, unjust, oppressive, etc. Also ty·ran´nic ty·ran´ni·cal·ly •adv. [L tyrannicus < Gr tyrannikos]

tyrannicide (tэ ræn´э said', ti-; tai-) •n. 1 the act of killing a tyrant 2 a person who kills a tyrant ty·ran'ni·ci´dal •adj. [in sense 1 < L tyrannicidium; in sense 2 < L tyrannicida: see TYRANT & -CIDE]

tyrannize (tir´э naiz') -nized', -niz'ing •vi. 1 to govern as a tyrant; rule with absolute power 2 to govern or use authority harshly or cruelly; be oppressive •vt. to treat tyrannically; oppress tyr´an·niz'er •n. [MFr tyranniser < ML tyrannizare]

tyrannosaur (tэ ræn´э sör', ti-; tai-) •n. any of a genus (Tyrannosaurus) of huge, two-footed, flesh-eating theropod dinosaurs of the Upper Cretaceous Period in North America and Asia Also ty·ran'no·saur´us (-эs) [< ModL Tyrannosaurus < Gr tyrannos, tyrant + ModL -saurus, -SAURUS]

tyrannous (tir´э nэs) •adj. tyrannical; despotic, oppressive, unjust, etc. tyr´an·nous·ly •adv.

tyranny (tir´э ni:) pl. -nies •n. 1 the office, authority, government, or jurisdiction of a tyrant, or absolute ruler 2 oppressive and unjust government; despotism 3 very cruel and unjust use of power or authority 4 harshness; rigor; severity 5 a tyrannical act [ME tirannie < OFr < ML tyrannia < Gr]

tyrant (tai´rэnt) •n. 1 an absolute ruler; specif., in ancient Greece, etc., one who seized sovereignty illegally; usurper 2 a cruel, oppressive ruler; despot 3 any person who exercises authority in an oppressive manner; cruel master 4 a tyrannical influence [ME tirant < OFr tiran, tirant (with -t after ending -ant of prp.) < L tyrannus < Gr tyrannos]

tyrant flycatcher any of a family (Tyrannidae) of American flycatchers, including the pewee, phoebe, and kingbird

Tyre (tair) seaport in SW Lebanon, on the Mediterranean: center of ancient Phoenician culture: pop. 12,000 [ME < L Tyrus < Gr Tyros] tyre (tair) •n. Brit., etc. (exc. Cdn.) sp. of TIRE²

Tyrian (tir´i: эn) •adj. 1 of ancient Tyre, its people, culture, etc. 2 of Tyrian purple •n. a native or inhabitant of Tyre [L Tyrius]

Tyrian purple (or dye) 1 a natural purple dye originally extracted from the glands of snails (family Muricidae) by the ancient Phoenicians of Tyre: widely used in the ancient and classical world in the dyeing of cloth 2 bluish red

tyro (tai´rou) pl. -ros •n. a beginner in learning something; novice SYN. AMATEUR [ML < L tiro, young soldier, beginner]

tyrocidine (tai'rou said´ªn, -sai´di:n') •n. an antibacterial substance obtained from a soil bacillus (Bacillus brevis) [TYRO(SINE) + -CID(E) + -INE³]

Tyrol (ti roul´, -räl´; tir´oul', -äl') alt. sp. of TIROL Ty·ro·le·an (ti rou´li: эn, tai-; also tir'э li:´эn) •adj., n. Tyr·o·lese (tir'э li:z´, -li:s´), pl. -lese´, •adj., n.

Tyrolienne (ti: řô lyen´) •n. 1 a Tyrolese folk dance 2 music for this [Fr, fem. of Tyrolien, Tyrolese]

Tyrone (ti roun´) former county of W Northern Ireland

tyrosinase (tai´rou sin eis', tir´ou-; tai rä´-) •n. an enzyme, found in plants and animals, that catalyzes the oxidation of the amino acid tyrosine and is involved in the formation of the dark pigment melanin [< fol. + -ASE]

tyrosine (tai´rou si:n', tir´ou-; -sin') •n. a white, crystalline nonessential amino acid, C6H4OHCH2CH(NH2)COOH, formed by the decomposition of proteins, as in the putrefaction of cheese: see AMINO ACID [Gr tyros, cheese (see BUTTER) + -INE³]

Tyrrhenian Sea (ti ri:´ni: эn) part of the Mediterranean, between the W coast of Italy & the islands of Corsica, Sardinia, & Sicily

Tyumen (tyu: men´) city in W Asian Russia, near the Urals: pop. 425,000

tzar (tsär, zär) •n. alt. sp. of CZAR tzar´dom •n. tzar´ism' •n. tzar´ist •adj., n.

tzarevitch (tsär´э vich, zär´-) •n. alt. sp. of CZAREVITCH

tzarevna (tsä rev´nэ, zä-) •n. alt. sp. of CZAREVNA

tzarina (tsä ri:´nэ, zä-) •n. alt. sp. of CZARINA

tzetze fly (tset´si:, tsi:t´-; set´-, si:t´-) alt. sp. of TSETSE FLY

tzigane (tsi: gån´) •n. a gypsy; esp., a Hungarian gypsy [Fr < Hung czigány (modern sp. cigány) < a S Slavic language]

Tzukung (tsu:´kuŋ´; dzu:´guŋ´) old form of ZIGONG

Tzupo (tsu:´pou´; dzu:´bou´) old form of ZIBO

U abbrev. 1 uncle 2 Union 3 United 4 University 5 Chem. symbol for uranium u abbrev. 1 atomic mass unit 2 unit(s) U (yu:) •adj. [Colloq.] of the upper or wealthy class, esp. the British upper class, as characterized by supposedly definitive usages, accent, behavior, tastes, etc.

U bolt a U-shaped bolt with threads and a nut at each end: see BOLT¹, illus.

u or U (yu:) pl. u's, U's •n. 1 the twenty-first letter of the English alphabet: formerly a variant of V, v; not until the 18th cent. was it established as a vowel symbol only 2 any of the speech sounds that this letter represents, as, in English, the vowel (u) of cut, (u) of bush, or (u:) of rude 3 a type or impression for U or u 4 the twenty-first in a sequence or group 5 an object shaped like U •adj. 1 of U or u 2 twenty-first in a sequence or group 3 shaped like U

U Thant See THANT, U

u.s. 1 as above [L ut supra] 2 where (mentioned) above [L ubi supra]

UAE United Arab Emirates

UAW United Automobile Workers (of America)

Ubangi (yu: bæŋ´gi:, -bäŋ´-; u:-) river in central Africa, formed on the N Zaire border by the juncture of the Uele & Bomu rivers & flowing west & south into the Congo River: c. 700 mi. (1,126 km) •n. nontechnical name for any of the women among the Sara, a people living near the Ubangi in the Central African Republic, with pierced lips enlarged by saucerlike disks

Übermensch (ü´bэř mensh') pl. -mensch'en (-эn) •n. SUPERMAN [Ger]

ubi supra (u:´bi: su:´prэ, yu:´bai) where (mentioned) above [L]

ubiety (yu: bai´э ti:) •n. [Now Rare] the condition of being in a particular place [ModL ubietas < L ubi, where]

ubiquitous (yu: bik´wэ tэs) •adj. present, or seeming to be present, everywhere at the same time; omnipresent u·biq´ui·tous·ly •adv. u·biq´ui·tous·ness •n. [see UBIQUITY & -OUS]

ubiquity (-ti:) •n. the state, fact, or capacity of being, or seeming to be, everywhere at the same time; omnipresence [Fr ubiquité < L ubique, everywhere < ubi, where + -que, any, akin to qui: see WHO]

U-boat (yu:´bout') •n. a German submarine [< Ger U-boot, abbrev. of Unterseeboot, undersea boat]

uc Printing upper case

Ucayali (u:'kä yä´li:) river in E Peru, flowing north to join the Marañón & form the Amazon: c. 1,200 mi. (1,931 km)

UCC Uniform Commercial Code

Uccello (u: chel´lou, u:t-), Pa·o·lo (pau´lou) (born Paolo di Dono) c. 1397-1475; It. painter

Udall (yu:d´ªl), Nicholas 1505-56; Eng. schoolmaster, translator, & playwright

udder (ûd´эr) •n. a baglike mammary organ containing two or more glands, each with a separate teat, as in cows [ME uddre < OE (rare) udr, akin to Ger euter < IE base *ūdh-, udder > Sans ūdhar, L uber, udder]

Udine (u:´di: ne) commune in NE Italy: pop. 102,000

udo (u:´dou') pl. u´dos' •n. a Japanese plant (Aralia cordata) of the ginseng family, whose blanched shoots are used like asparagus and in salads [Jpn]

Uele (wei´lэ) river flowing from NE Zaire west to join the Bomu & form the Ubangi: c. 700 mi. (1,126 km)

Ufa (u: fä´) city in E European Russia, in the W foothills of the Urals: pop. 1,064,000

UFO (yu:'ef ou´, yu:´fou') pl. UFOs •n.or UFO's any of a number of unidentified objects or phenomena frequently reported, esp. since 1947, to have been observed or tracked in the sky and variously explained as being atmospheric phenomena, hallucinations, misperceptions of actual objects, alien spacecraft, etc. [u(nidentified) f(lying) o(bject)]

ufology (yu: fäl´э ji:) •n. the study of UFOs, esp. when regarded as spacecraft from another planet u·fol´o·gist •n. [UFO + -OLOGY]

Uganda (yu: gæn´dэ, -gän´-; u:-) country in EC Africa: a former British protectorate, it became independent & a member of the Commonwealth (1962): 93,981 sq. mi. (243,409 sq. km); pop. 15,158,000; cap. Kampala U·gan´dan (-dэn) •adj., n.

Ugaritic (u:'gэ rit´ik, yu:'-) •n. an extinct Northern Semitic language closely related to Hebrew: it is known from cuneiform inscriptions of c. 1500 B.C. found in the ruins of the ancient city of Ugarit in N Syria •adj. of this language or the city of Ugarit or its inhabitants

ugh (ukh, ûH, u, etc.; ûg is a conventionalized pronun.) •interj. an exclamation of disgust, horror, etc. [echoic]

Ugli (ûg´li:) trademark for a Jamaican citrus fruit that is a three-way cross between a grapefruit, orange, and tangerine •n. this fruit: also called ug´li fruit [altered < UGLY: from its misshapen appearance]

uglify (ûg´lэ fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. to make ugly; disfigure

ugly (ûg´li:) -li·er, -li·est •adj. 1 unpleasing to look at; aesthetically offensive or unattractive; unsightly 2 bad, vile, repulsive, offensive, objectionable, etc. {an ugly lie, habit, etc.} 3 threatening; ominous {ugly storm clouds} 4 [Colloq.] ill-tempered; cross {an ugly mood} •n. pl. -lies [Colloq.] an ugly person or thing ug´li·ly •adv. ug´li·ness •n. [ME uglike < ON uggligr, fearful, dreadful < uggr, fear, prob. < IE base *a-, sharp > Gr akē, a point]

ugly duckling a very plain child or unpromising thing that in time becomes or could become beautiful, admirable, important, etc. [from a story by Hans Christian ANDERSEN about a supposed ugly duckling that turns out to be a swan]

Ugrian (u:´gri: эn, yu:´-) •n., adj. var. of UGRIC

Ugric (-grik) •n. 1 a group of languages, including Hungarian, that constitutes the E division of the Finno-Ugric languages 2 a member of any of the peoples speaking these languages •adj. designating or of these languages or the peoples who speak them [< Russ Ugri (pl. of Ugr), early name of a people living east of the Ural Mountains]

uh (û, ûñ, эñ) •interj. 1 HUH 2 a prolonged sound made in speaking, as while searching for a word or collecting one's thoughts

UHF or uhf ultrahigh frequency

uh-huh (ûñ hûñ´; for 2 ûñ´ûñ´) •interj. 1 an exclamation indicating a) an affirmative response b) that one is listening attentively 2 var. of UH-UH

uhlan (u:´län', yu:´-; -lэn; u: län´, yu:-) •n. [Historical] a mounted lancer or a cavalryman in Poland, Prussia, etc. [obs. Ger (now ulan) < Pol ułan, a lancer < Turk oghlān, a youth]

Uhland (u:´länt'), Jo·hann Lud·wig (you´hän' lu:t´viH') 1787-1862; Ger. poet & literary historian

uh-uh (ûñ´ûñ´, -ûñ') •interj. an exclamation indicating a negative response

uhuru (u: hu:´ru:) •n., interj. freedom: a slogan of African Nationalists [Swahili]

Uighur or Uigur (wi:´gur') •n. 1 a member of a Turkic people living mainly in W China and Uzbekistan, who ruled in Mongolia and Turkestan in the Middle Ages 2 the Turkic language of this people •adj. designating or of the Uighurs or their language or culture [Uighur name < ?]

Uinta Mountains (yu: in´tэ) range of the Rockies, in NE Utah: highest peak, 13,498 ft. (4,115 m) [after the Uinta Indians, a division of the Utes < ?]

uintaite or uintahite (yu: in´tэ ait') •n. a black, brilliantly lustrous, natural variety of asphalt, found in parts of Utah and W Colorado [after fol.]

uitlander (ëit´län'dэř; E oit´læn'dэr, eit´-, ait´-) •n. in South Africa, a foreigner; specif., one not a Boer in the Transvaal [Afrik < Du uit, out (for IE base see OUT) + land, land]

U-joint (yu:´joint') •n. short for UNIVERSAL JOINT

Ujung Pandang (u:´ju:ŋ' pän däŋ´) seaport on the SW coast of Celebes, Indonesia: pop. 709,000

UK United Kingdom

ukase (yu:´keis', -keiz'; yu: keis´, -keiz´) •n. 1 in czarist Russia, an imperial order or decree, having the force of law 2 any official, esp. arbitrary, decree or proclamation [Russ ukaz, edict < ukazat', to order (modern meaning to indicate) < OSlav kazati, talk]

Ukraine (yu: krein´, -krain´; yu:´krein) 1 region in SE Europe, north of the Black Sea 2 UKRAINIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC 3 country in SE Europe: became independent upon the breakup of the U.S.S.R. (1991): 231,990 sq. mi. (600,851 sq. km); pop. 50,000,000; cap. Kiev: formerly Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic

Ukrainian (yu: krei´ni: эn) •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Ukraine 2 the East Slavic language of the Ukrainians •adj. of Ukraine, its people, or their language or culture

Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic a republic of the U.S.S.R.: now Ukraine

ukulele (yu:'kэ lei´li:) •n. a small, four-stringed, guitarlike musical instrument introduced from Portugal into the Hawaiian Islands about 1879: colloquially shortened to uke (yu:k) [Haw, lit., leaping flea < uku, flea (< Proto-Polynesian *kutu > COOTIE) + lele, to jump: orig. a nickname of Edward Purvis, nimble player who popularized the instrument there]

ulan (u:´län', yu:´-; -lэn; u: län´, yu:-) •n. UHLAN

Ulan Bator (u:´län' bä´tör') capital of the Mongolian People's Republic, in the NC part: pop. 400,000

Ulanova (u: lä´nэ vэ), Ga·li·na (Sergeyevna) (gэ li:´nэ) 1910- ; Soviet ballerina

Ulan-Ude (u: län'u: dei´) city in S Siberia, near Lake Baikal: pop. 325,000

Ulbricht (ul´břiHt'), Wal·ter (väl´tэř) 1893-1973; chief of state of East Germany (1960-73)

ulcer (ûl´sэr) •n. 1 an open sore (other than a wound) on the skin or some mucous membrane, as the lining of the stomach (peptic ulcer), characterized by the disintegration of the tissue and, often, the discharge of pus 2 any corrupting or festering condition or influence [L ulcus (gen. ulceris) < IE *elkos-, abscess > Sans árśas-, hemorrhoids, Gr helkos, abscess, wound]

ulcerate (ûl´sэr eit') -at'ed, -at'ing •vt., vi. to make or become ulcerous ul'cer·a´tion •n. ul´cer·a'tive •adj. [< L ulceratus, pp. of ulcerare]

ulcerous (-sэr эs) •adj. 1 having an ulcer or ulcers 2 of, being, or characterized by an ulcer or ulcers 3 causing an ulcer or ulcers ul´cer·ous·ly •adv. [L ulcerosus]

-ule (yu:l, yul) suffix forming nouns little (specified thing) {veinule} [Fr or L: Fr -ule < L -ulus, -ula, -ulum]

ulema (u:'lэ mä´, u:´lэ mä') •n.pl. 1 Muslim scholars or men of authority in religion and law, esp. in Turkey 2 [with sing. v.] a council or college of such men [Turk. ulema < Ar ulamāر, pl. of ؟ālim, learned, scholar < ؟alima, to know]

-ulent (yu: lэnt, yu-, yэ-) suffix full of, abounding in {flocculent} [< Fr or L: Fr -ulent < L -ulentus]

Ulfilas (ûl´fi lэs) c. A.D. 311- c. 383; bishop of the Goths: translated the Bible into Gothic: also Ul´fi·la (-lэ) [LGr for Goth Wulfila, lit., little wolf < wulfs, WOLF + -ila, dim. suffix: cf. ATTILA]

ullage (ûl´ij) •n. the amount by which a container, esp. of liquid, falls short of being full [ME ulage < Anglo-Fr ulliage < OFr ouillage, a filling up to the brim or the bunghole < ouiller, to fill (a cask) to the bunghole < ueil, an eye, fig. bunghole < L oculus, an EYE]

Ulm (ulm) city in S Germany, on the Danube, in the state of Baden-Württemberg: pop. 100,000

ulna (ûl´nэ) pl. -nae (-ni:) or -nas •n. 1 the larger of the two bones of the forearm of humans, on the side opposite the thumb: see SKELETON, illus. 2 a homologous bone in the forelimb of other land vertebrates ul´nad' (-næd') •adv. ul´nar (-nэr) •adj. [ModL < L, elbow: for IE base see ELL²]

ulno- (ûl´nou, -nэ) combining form the ulna and

-ulose (yu: lous', yu-, yэ-) suffix characterized by, marked by {granulose} [L -ulosus: see -ULE & -OSE²]

ulotrichous (yu: lä´tri kэs) •adj. having wool or tightly twisted hair [< Gr oulothrix, woolly-haired < oulos, crisp, woolly + thrix, hair + -OUS]

-ulous (yu: lэs, yu-, yэ-) suffix tending to, full of, characterized by [< L -ulosus: see -ULOSE]

ulpan (u:l´pän') pl. ul·pa´nim (-pä´nim) •n. a course or school for teaching Hebrew by an intensive method; esp., such a school in Israel for immigrants [ModHeb < Aram ulpan, ulpana, study < alef, first letter of the Jewish alphabet]

ulster (ûl´stэr) •n. a long, loose, heavy overcoat, esp. one with a belt, orig. made of Irish frieze [after fol., where fabric was orig. made] Ulster (ûl´stэr) 1 former province of Ireland, divided in 1920, with six of its counties forming Northern Ireland & the other three forming a province of the Republic of Ireland 2 province of the Republic of Ireland, in the N part; 3,094 sq. mi. (8,010 sq. km); pop. 230,000 3 loosely, NORTHERN IRELAND Ul´ster·man (-mэn), pl. -men (-mэn), •n. Ul´ster·ite' (-ait') •n.

ult 1 ultimate 2 ultimately

ult. ultimo

ulterior (ûl tir´i: эr) •adj. 1 lying beyond or on the farther side 2 later, subsequent, or future 3 further; more remote; esp., beyond what is expressed, implied, or evident; undisclosed {an ulterior motive} ul·te´ri·or·ly •adv. [L, compar. of *ulter, beyond, farther (see ULTRA-)]

ultima (ûl´ti mэ) •n. the last syllable of a word [L, fem. of ultimus, last, superl. of *ulter, farther: see ULTRA-]

ultima Thule (ûl´ti mэ θu:´li:) THULE (northernmost region) 1 any far-off, unknown region 2 the farthest limit, uttermost degree, etc. [L, farthest Thule]

ultimate (ûl´tэ mit) •adj. 1 beyond which it is impossible to go; farthest; most remote or distant 2 by which a process or series comes to an end; final; conclusive 3 beyond which further analysis, division, etc. cannot be made; elemental; fundamental; primary 4 greatest or highest possible; maximum; utmost •n. something ultimate; final point or result, fundamental principle, etc. ul´ti·ma·cy (-mэ si:) or ul´ti·mate·ness •n. [LL ultimatus, pp. of ultimare, to come to an end < L ultimus: see ULTIMA]

ultimate constituent Linguis. see CONSTITUENT (n. 4)

ultimately (-li:) •adv. finally; at last; in the end

ultimatum (ûl'tэ meit´эm) pl. -tums or -ta (-э) •n. a final offer or demand, esp. by one of the parties engaged in negotiations, the rejection of which usually leads to a break in relations and unilateral action, the use of force, etc. by the party issuing the ultimatum [ModL < LL, neut. of ultimatus: see ULTIMATE]

ultimo (ûl´tэ mou') •adv. [Old-fashioned] (in the) last (month) {yours of the 13th (day) ultimo received}: cf. PROXIMO, INSTANT (adv. 2) [L ultimo (mense), (in the) last (month), abl. sing. of ultimus: see ULTIMA]

ultimogeniture (ûl'tэ mou jen´э chэr) •n. inheritance or succession by the youngest son of the family [< L ultimus, last + -geniture as in PRIMOGENITURE]

ultra (ûl´trэ) •adj. going beyond the usual limit; excessive; extreme, esp. in opinions •n. an extremist, as in opinions held or policies favored [< fol.]

ultra- (ûl´trэ) prefix 1 beyond, on the farther side of {ultramundane} 2 (something) excessive, to an extreme degree {ultraism} 3 beyond the range of {ultrasonic} [L < ultra, fem. of *ulter, beyond, on the other side of < IE *ol-, var. of base *al-, beyond > ALL, L alius, other]

ultra vires (ûl´trэ vai´ri:z') beyond the legal power or authority of a person, corporation, etc. [L, lit., beyond men]

ultracentrifuge (ûl'trэ sen´trэ fyu:j') •n. a high-speed centrifuge for segregating microscopic and submicroscopic materials to determine the sizes and molecular weights of colloidal and other small particles •vt. -fuged', -fug'ing to subject to the action of an ultracentrifuge ul'tra·cen·trif´u·gal (-trif´yэ gэl) •adj.

ultraconservative (-kэn sør´vэ tiv) •adj. conservative to an extreme degree •n. an ultraconservative person

ultrahigh frequency (ûl´trэ hai´) any radio frequency between 300 and 3,000 megahertz

ultraism (ûl´trэ iz'эm) •n. 1 the opinions, principles, etc. of those who are extreme; extremism 2 an instance of this ul´tra·ist •n., adj. ul'tra·is´tic •adj. [ULTRA- + -ISM]

ultramarine (ûl'trэ mэ ri:n´) •adj. 1 beyond the sea 2 deep-blue •n. 1 a blue pigment orig. made by grinding lapis lazuli to a powder 2 a blue pigment of similar chemical composition prepared from other substances 3 any of certain other pigments {yellow ultramarine} 4 deep blue [ML ultramarinus: see ULTRA- & MARINE]

ultramicrometer (-mai kräm´эt эr) •n. a micrometer for making very small measurements

ultramicroscope (-mai´krэ skoup') •n. an instrument equipped to pick up the reflections of light rays dispersed by ultramicroscopic objects lighted from the side and against a dark background, thus making them visible: used esp. in the study of colloidal particles ul'tra·mi·cros´co·py (-mai kräs´kэ pi:) •n.

ultramicroscopic (-mai'krэ skäp´ik) •adj. 1 too small to be seen with an ordinary microscope 2 of an ultramicroscope

ultramodern (-mäd´эrn) •adj. modern to an extreme degree ul'tra·mod´ern·ism' •n. ul'tra·mod´ern·ist •n.

ultramontane (-män´tein', -män tein´) •adj. 1 beyond the mountains, specif. the Alps 2 of the Roman Catholic doctrine of papal supremacy or the former Church party advocating it •n. 1 a person living beyond the mountains, esp. south of the Alps 2 an adherent of the ultramontane party ul'tra·mon´ta·nism (-tэ nizªm) •n. [ML ultramontanus < L ultra, beyond + mons (gen. montis), MOUNT¹]

ultramundane (-mûn´dein', -mûn dein´) •adj. 1 being beyond the world or the limits of our solar system 2 beyond life [L ultramundanus: see ULTRA- & MUNDANE]

ultranationalism (-næsh´эn эl iz'эm) •n. nationalism that is excessive or extreme ul'tra·na´tion·al·ist •adj., n. ul'tra·na'tion·al·is´tic •adj.

ultrared (-red´) •adj. nontechnical var. of INFRARED

ultrashort (-shört´) •adj. very short; specif., designating or of radio waves shorter than 10 meters in wavelength and above 30 megahertz in frequency

ultrasonic (-sän´ik) •adj. designating or of a frequency of mechanical vibrations above the range audible to the human ear, i.e., above 20,000 vibrations per second ul'tra·son´i·cal·ly •adv. [ULTRA- + SONIC]

ultrasonics (-sän´iks) •n.pl. [with sing. v.] the science dealing with ultrasonic phenomena

ultrasonography (-sou näg´rэ fi:) •n. the technique of using ultrasound to form an image or picture ul'tra·son'o·graph´ic (-sän'ou græf´ik) •adj.

ultrasound (ûl´trэ saund') •n. ultrasonic waves, used in medical diagnosis and therapy, in surgery, etc.

ultrastructure (-strûk'chэr) •n. the minute, elemental structure of protoplasm that can be seen only with an electron microscope ul'tra·struc´tur·al •adj.

Ultrasuede (ûl´trэ sweid') trademark for a synthetic fabric much like suede, used for clothes, upholstery, etc.

ultraviolet (ûl'trэ vai´э lit) •adj. 1 pertaining to a band of electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths (from c. 5 to c. 400 nanometers) that are shorter than violet light 2 of, pertaining to, or producing radiation of such wavelengths •n. ultraviolet radiation

ultravirus (ûl'trэ vai´rэs) •n. an ultramicroscopic virus, so small as to pass through the pores of the finest filter [ModL: see ULTRA- & VIRUS]

ulu (u:´lu:') •n. a knife with a broad, almost semicircular blade, used traditionally by Eskimo women [Esk]

ululate (yu:l´yu leit', ûl´-) -lat'ed, -lat'ing •vi. 1 to howl or hoot 2 to wail or lament loudly ul´u·lant (-lэnt) •adj. ul'u·la´tion •n. [< L ululatus, pp. of ululare, to howl: echoic]

Ulyanovsk (u:l yä´nôfsk') river port in central European Russia, on the Volga: pop. 544,000

Ulysses (yu lis´i:z') 1 a masculine name 2 ODYSSEUS [ML, for L Ulixes < ?]

um or umm (ûm, эm; ûñ, эñ) •interj. UH (sense 2)

umbel (ûm´bэl) •n. a cluster of flowers with stalks of nearly equal length which spring from about the same point, like the ribs of an umbrella: see INFLORESCENCE, illus. •adj. designating a family (Apiaceae, order Apiales) of hollow-stemmed, herbaceous, dicotyledonous plants having umbels, including celery and parsley [L umbella, parasol: see UMBRELLA]

umbellate (-it, -eit') •adj. having, consisting of, resembling, or forming an umbel or umbels Also um´bel·lat'ed um´bel·late·ly •adv. [ModL umbellatus]

umbelliferous (ûm'bэ lif´эr эs) •adj. having an umbel or umbels, as plants of the umbel family [ModL umbellifer (see UMBEL & -FER) + -OUS]

umbellule (ûm´bэl yu:l', ûm bel´yu:l') •n. a small or simple umbel, esp. any of the secondary umbels of a compound umbel um·bel´lu·late (-yu lit) •adj. [ModL umbellula, dim.]

umber¹ (ûm´bэr) •n. 1 a kind of earth containing oxides of manganese and iron, used as a pigment: raw umber is yellowish-brown; burnt, or calcined, umber is reddish-brown 2 a yellowish-brown or reddish-brown color •adj. of the color of raw umber or burnt umber •vt. to color with or as with umber [Fr (terre d')ombre < It (terra d')ombra, lit., (earth of) shade, prob. < L umbra, a shade, shadow (but based on ? UMBRIA)]

umber² (ûm´bэr) •n. 1 [Now Dial.] shade; shadow 2 a common European grayling (Thymallus thymallus) [ME < OFr umbre (Fr ombre) < L umbra: see UMBER1]

umbilical (ûm bil´i kэl) •adj. 1 of or like an umbilicus, or navel, or an umbilical cord 2 situated at or near the navel; central to the abdomen 3 linked together by or as if by an umbilical cord Æ n. 1 a flexible, detachable cable serving as a tether or supplying oxygen, electric power, etc. as to an astronaut or aquanaut 2 any detachable cables, hoses, etc. connected to a rocket, etc. on its launch pad [ML umbilicalis]

umbilical cord 1 a tough, cordlike structure connecting the navel of a fetus to the placenta and serving to supply nourishment to, and remove waste from, the fetus Æ 2 UMBILICAL (n.)

umbilicate (-kit, -keit') •adj. 1 having an umbilicus, or navel 2 shaped or depressed like an umbilicus, or navel Also um·bil´i·cat'ed [L umbilicatus]

umbilication (ûm bil'i kei´shэn) •n. 1 the condition of being umbilicate 2 a navel-like pit, as in a pustule

umbilicus (ûm bil´i kэs, ûm'bi lai´kэs) pl. -ci' (-sai') •n. 1 NAVEL 2 a navel-like depression, as the hilum of a seed [L, NAVEL]

umbiliform (ûm bil´э förm') •adj. shaped like an umbilicus, or navel [< prec. + -FORM]

umble pie (ûm´bэl) var. of HUMBLE PIE

umbles (ûm´bэlz) •n.pl. archaic var. of NUMBLES

umbo (ûm´bou') pl. um·bo·nes (ûm bou´ni:z') or um´bos' •n. 1 the boss, or knob, at the center of a shield 2 something resembling this; specif., a) the elevation beside the hinge on each half of a bivalve shell b) the prominence on the eardrum at the point of attachment of the malleus um´bo·nal (-bэ nэl), um´bo·nate (-nit, -neit'), or um·bon·ic (ûm bän´ik) •adj. [L, akin to umbilicus, NAVEL]

umbra (ûm´brэ) pl. -brae' (-bri:') or -bras •n. 1 shade or a shadow 2 the dark central cone of shadow projecting from a planet or satellite on the side opposite the sun: see ECLIPSE, illus. 3 the dark central part of a sunspot 4 [Rare] a phantom, or ghost 5 Physics a perfect or complete shadow, in which no direct light is received from the source of illumination um´bral •adj. [L, a shade, shadow]

umbrage (ûm´brij) •n. 1 [Obs. or Old Poet.] shade; shadow 2 foliage, considered as shade-giving 3 offense or resentment {to take umbrage at a remark} 4 [Archaic] a semblance or shadowy appearance SYN. OFFENSE [ME < OFr < L umbraticus, of shade < umbra, a shade, shadow]

umbrageous (ûm brei´jэs) •adj. 1 giving shade; shady 2 easily offended um·bra´geous·ly •adv. [Fr ombrageux, shy, suspicious, orig., shady < ombrage < OFr umbrage: see UMBRAGE]

umbrella (ûm brel´э) •n. 1 a screen or shade, usually of cloth stretched over a folding radial frame, carried for protection against the rain or sun 2 something suggestive of this; specif., a) the body of a jellyfish b) any comprehensive, protective organization, alliance, strategy, or device {the umbrella of insurance} c) a force of military aircraft sent up to screen ground or naval forces {air umbrella} [It ombrella < LL umbrella (altered by assoc. with L umbra, shade) < L umbella, parasol, dim. of umbra, shade]

umbrella bird any of a genus (Cephalopterus, family Cotingidae) of large, black South and Central American passerine birds with a large, umbrellalike, erectile crest and a long, feathered wattle

umbrella leaf a perennial plant (Diphylleia cymosa) of the barberry family, native to the S Appalachians and having one or two lobed, peltate leaves and a cyme of white flowers

umbrella plant a common, cultivated, aquatic sedge (Cyperus alternifolius) having naked, triangular stems surmounted by an umbrellalike whorl of grasslike leaves and greenish spikelets Also called umbrella palm

umbrella tree Æ 1 an American magnolia (Magnolia tripetala) with clusters of long leaves at the ends of the branches, foul-smelling white flowers, and reddish fruit 2 any of a number of other trees or shrubs whose leaves are umbrella-shaped or grow with an umbrellalike effect, as the chinaberry of the mahogany family

Umbria (ûm´bri: э; It u:m´bři: ä') region in central Italy: in ancient times a district extending from the Tiber to the Adriatic: 3,270 sq. mi. (8,469 sq. km); pop. 807,000; chief city, Perugia [L, after Umbri, the Umbrians]