Loading earlier words…
Catanadromous

Ascending and descending fresh streams from and to the sea, as the salmon; anadromous.

Catapasm

A compound medicinal powder, used by the ancients to sprinkle on ulcers, to absorb perspiration, etc.

Catapetalous

Having the petals held together by stamens, which grow to their bases, as in the mallow.

Cataphonic

Of or relating to cataphonics; catacoustic.

Cataphonics

That branch of acoustics which treats of reflected sounds; catacoustics.

Cataphracted

Covered with a cataphract, or armor of plates, scales, etc.; or with that which corresponds to this, as horny or bony plates, hard, callous skin, etc.

Cataplasm

A soft and moist substance applied externally to some part of the body; a poultice.

Cataplexy

A morbid condition caused by an overwhelming shock or extreme fear and marked by rigidity of the muscles.

Cataract

A great fall of water over a precipice; a large waterfall.

Cataractous

Of the nature of a cataract in the eye; affected with cataract.

Catarrh

An inflammatory affection of any mucous membrane, in which there are congestion, swelling, and an altertion in the quantity and quality of mucus secreted; as, catarrh of the stomach; catarrh of the bladder.

Catarrhal

Pertaining to, produced by, or attending, catarrh; of the nature of catarrh.

Catarrhine

One of the Catarrhina, a division of Quadrumana, including the Old World monkeys and apes which have the nostrils close together and turned downward. See Monkey.

Catastaltic

Checking evacuations through astringent or styptic qualities.

Catastasis

That part of a speech, usually the exordium, in which the orator sets forth the subject matter to be discussed.

Catasterism

A placing among the stars; a catalogue of stars.

Catastrophe

An event producing a subversion of the order or system of things; a final event, usually of a calamitous or disastrous nature; hence, sudden calamity; great misfortune.

Catastrophism

The doctrine that the geological changes in the earth's crust have been caused by the sudden action of violent physical causes; -- opposed to the doctrine of uniformism.

catatonia

an abnormal behavioral syndrome characterized by stupor, negativism, and muscular rigidity, sometimes alternating with purposeless excitement, and seen most frequently in schizophrenia; called also catatonic schizophrenia.

Catawba

A well known light red variety of American grape.

Catawbas

An Appalachian tribe of Indians which originally inhabited the regions near the Catawba river and the head waters of the Santee.

Catbird

An American bird (Galeoscoptes Carolinensis), allied to the mocking bird, and like it capable of imitating the notes of other birds, but less perfectly. Its note resembles at times the mewing of a cat.

Catboat

A small sailboat, with a single mast placed as far forward as possible, carring a sail extended by a gaff and long boom. See Illustration in Appendix.

catbrier

a very prickly woody vine of eastern U.S. (Smilax rotundifolia) growing in tangled masses, having tough round stems with shiny leathery leaves and small greenish flowers followed by clusters of inedible shiny black berries.

Catcall

A sound like the cry of a cat, such as is made in playhouses to express dissatisfaction with a play; also, a small shrill instrument for making such a noise.

Catch

Act of seizing; a grasp.

Catch crop

Any crop grown between the rows of another crop or intermediate between two crops in ordinary rotation in point of time.

Catch-basin

A cistern or vault at the point where a street gutter discharges into a sewer, to catch bulky matters which would not pass readily through the sewer.

Catch-meadow

A meadow irrigated by water from a spring or rivulet on the side of hill.

Catchdrain

A ditch or drain along the side of a hill to catch the surface water; also, a ditch at the side of a canal to catch the surplus water.

Catcher

One who, or that which, catches.

Catchfly

A plant with the joints of the stem, and sometimes other parts, covered with a viscid secretion to which small insects adhere. The species of Silene are examples of the catchfly.

Catching

The act of seizing or taking hold of.

Catchment

A surface of ground on which water may be caught and collected into a reservoir.

Catchpenny

Made or contrived for getting small sums of money from the ignorant or unwary; as, a catchpenny book; a catchpenny show. Some worthless catchpenny thing.

Catchwater

A ditch or drain for catching water. See Catchdrain.

Catchweight

Without any additional weight; without being handicapped; as, to ride catchweight.

Catchword

Among theatrical performers, the last word of the preceding speaker, which reminds one that he is to speak next; cue.

Catchwork

A work or artificial water-course for throwing water on lands that lie on the slopes of hills; a catchdrain.

Catchy

Apt or tending to catch the fancy or attention; catching; taking; as, catchy music.

Catechetical Catechetic

Relating to or consisting in, asking questions and receiving answers, according to the ancient manner of teaching.

Catechetics

The science or practice of instructing by questions and answers.

Catechin

One of the tannic acids (C15H14O6), extracted from catechu as a white, crystalline substance; -- called also catechuic acid, catechinic acid, cyanidol, and catechuin. It is a flavonoid found generally in higher woody plants, and is used in dyeing and tanning.

Catechism

A form of instruction by means of questions and answers.

Catechismal

Of or pertaining to a catechism, having the form of questions and answers; catechetical.

Catechist

One who instructs by question and answer, especially in religions matters.

catechol

any of a group of chemicals having a benzene ring substituted with two hydroxyl groups in ortho position, especially ortho-dihydroxybenzene itself (C6H6O2), also called pyrocatechol, used in photography and as a reagent.

catecholamine

any of a group of chemicals including epinephrine and norepinephrine that are produced in the medulla of the adrenal gland. They function as nerotransmitters in the sympathetic nervous system. Also, any structurally related chemical substance, whether natural or synthetic.

Catechu

A dry, brown, astringent extract, obtained by decoction and evaporation from the Acacia catechu, and several other plants growing in India. It contains a large portion of tannin or tannic acid, and is used in medicine and in the arts. It is also known by the names terra japonica, cutch, gambier, etc.

Catechuic

Of or pertaining to catechu or its derivatives. See catechin.

Catechumen

One who is receiving rudimentary instruction in the doctrines of Christianity; a neophyte; in the primitive church, one officially recognized as a Christian, and admitted to instruction preliminary to admission to full membership in the church.

Catechumenate

The state or condition of a catechumen or the time during which one is a catechumen.

Catechumenical

Of or pertaining to catechumens; as, catechumenical instructions.

Categorematic

Capable of being employed by itself as a term; -- said of a word.

Categorically

Absolutely; directly; expressly; positively; as, to affirm categorically.

Categorist

One who inserts in a category or list; one who classifies.

Categorize

To insert in a category or list; to class; to catalogue.

Category

One of the highest classes to which the objects of knowledge or thought can be reduced, and by which they can be arranged in a system; an ultimate or undecomposable conception; a predicament.

Catel

Property; -- often used by Chaucer in contrast with rent, or income.

Catelectrode

The negative electrode or pole of a voltaic battery.

Catelectrotonus

The condition of increased irritability of a nerve in the region of the cathode or negative electrode, on the passage of a current of electricity through it.

Catena

A chain or series of things connected with each other.

Catenary

The curve formed by a rope or chain of uniform density and perfect flexibility, hanging freely between two points of suspension, not in the same vertical line.

Catenate

To connect, in a series of links or ties; to chain.

Catenation

Connection of links or union of parts, as in a chain; a regular or connected series. See Concatenation.

Cateran

A Highland robber: a kind of irregular soldier.

Caterpillar

The larval state of a butterfly or any lepidopterous insect; sometimes, but less commonly, the larval state of other insects, as the sawflies, which are also called false caterpillars. The true caterpillars have three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of abdominal fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. Some are hairy, others naked. They usually feed on leaves, fruit, and succulent vegetables, being often very destructive, Many of them are popularly called worms, as the cutworm, cankerworm, army worm, cotton worm, silkworm.

Caterpillar track

an endless belt looped over several wheels, used in pairs in place of wheels to propel vehicles, such as tractors or military tanks, over rough ground.

caterpillar-tracked

having caterpillar treads or tracks on the wheels; as, a caterpillar-tracked earthmover.

Caterwauling

The cry of cats; a harsh, disagreeable noise or cry like the cry of cats.

Catery

The place where provisions are deposited.

Cates

Provisions; food; viands; especially, luxurious food; delicacies; dainties.

Catfall

A rope used in hoisting the anchor to the cathead.

Catfish

A name given in the United States to various species of siluroid fishes; as, the yellow cat (Amiurus natalis); the bind cat (Gronias nigrilabrus); the mud cat (Pilodictic oilwaris), the stone cat (Noturus flavus); the sea cat (Arius felis), etc. This name is also sometimes applied to the wolf fish. See Bullhrad.

Catgut

A cord of great toughness made from the intestines of animals, esp. of sheep, used for strings of musical instruments, etc.

Catharist

One aiming at or pretending to a greater purity of like than others about him; -- applied to persons of various sects. See Albigenses.

Catharsis

A natural or artificial purgation of any passage, as of the mouth, bowels, etc.

Cathartic

A medicine that promotes alvine discharges; a purge; a purgative of moderate activity.

cathartin

The bitter, purgative principle of senna. It is a glucoside with the properties of a weak acid; -- called also cathartic acid, and cathartina.

Cathay

China; -- an old name for the Celestial Empire, said have been introduced by Marco Polo and to be a corruption of the Tartar name for North China (Khitai, the country of the Khitans.)

Cathead

A projecting piece of timber or iron near the bow of vessel, to which the anchor is hoisted and secured.

cathect

to inject with libidinal energy.

cathectic

of or pertaining to cathexis; invested with mental or emotional energy.

Cathedra

The official chair or throne of a bishop, or of any person in high authority.

Cathedral

The principal church in a diocese, so called because in it the bishop has his official chair (Cathedra) or throne.

Cathedrated

Relating to the chair or office of a teacher.

Catheretic

A mild kind caustic used to reduce warts and other excrescences.

Catheter

The name of various instruments for passing along mucous canals, esp. applied to a tubular instrument to be introduced into the bladder through the urethra to draw off the urine.

Loading more words…