Loading earlier words…
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.

Cathetometer

An instrument for the accurate measurement of small differences of height; esp. of the differences in the height of the upper surfaces of two columns of mercury or other fluid, or of the same column at different times. It consists of a telescopic leveling apparatus (d), which slides up or down a perpendicular metallic standard very finely graduated (bb). The telescope is raised or depressed in order to sight the objects or surfaces, and the differences in vertical height are thus shown on the graduated standard.

Cathetus

One line or radius falling perpendicularly on another; as, the catheti of a right-angled triangle, that is, the two sides that include the right angle.

Cathexis

the process of investing mental, emotional, or libidinal energy or significance in an object, person, or idea.

Cathode

The part of a voltaic battery by which the electric current leaves substances through which it passes, or the surface at which the electric current passes out of the electrolyte; the negative pole; -- opposed to anode.

Cathodic

A term applied to the centrifugal, or efferent, course of the nervous influence.

Catholic

A person who accepts the creeds which are received in common by all parts of the orthodox Christian church.

Catholicity

The state or quality of being catholic; universality.

Catholicize

To make or to become catholic or Roman Catholic.

Catholicly

In a catholic manner; generally; universally.

Catholicness

The quality of being catholic; universality; catholicity.

Catholicos

The spiritual head of the Armenian church, who resides at Etchmiadzin, Russia, and has ecclesiastical jurisdiction over, and consecrates the holy oil for, the Armenians of Russia, Turkey, and Persia, including the Patriarchs of Constantinople, Jerusalem, and Sis.

Catilinarian

Pertaining to Catiline, the Roman conspirator; resembling Catiline's conspiracy.

Cation

a positively charged atom, radical, or molecule, which in electrolysis migrates to the cathode; a positive ion; -- opposed to anion.

cationic

of or pertaining to cations; having a net positive charge; positively ionic; -- said of ions. Contrasted with anionic.

Catkin

An ament; a species of inflorescence, consisting of a slender axis with many unisexual apetalous flowers along its sides, as in the willow and poplar, and (as to the staminate flowers) in the chestnut, oak, hickory, etc. -- so called from its resemblance to a cat's tail. See Illust. of Ament.

catkinate

of, pertaining to, or resembling a catkin.

Catlike

Like a cat; stealthy; noiseless.

Catlinite

A red clay from the Upper Missouri region, used by the Indians for their pipes.

Catmint Catnip

A well-know plant of the genus Nepeta (Nepeta Cataria), somewhat like mint, having a string scent, and sometimes used in medicine. It is so called because cats have a peculiar fondness for it.

Catonian

Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the stern old Roman, Cato the Censor; severe; inflexible.

Catoptrics

That part of optics which explains the properties and phenomena of reflected light, and particularly that which is reflected from mirrors or polished bodies; -- formerly called anacamptics.

Catoptromancy

A species of divination, which was performed by letting down a mirror into water, for a sick person to look at his face in it. If his countenance appeared distorted and ghastly, it was an ill omen; if fresh and healthy, it was favorable.

Catso

A base fellow; a rogue; a cheat.

Catstick

A stick or club employed in the game of ball called cat or tipcat.

Catstitch

To fold and sew down the edge of with a coarse zigzag stitch.

Catsup

Same as Catchup, and Ketchup.

Catsup Catchup

A pureed table sauce made predominantly from tomatoes, flavored with onions, sugar, salt and spices; called also tomato ketchup. The term is also applied to pureed sauces containing mushrooms, walnuts, etc., being called in such cases mushroom ketchup, walnut ketchup, etc.

cattalo

hardy breed of cattle resulting from crossing domestic cattle with the American buffalo; it yields leaner beef than conventional breeds; it is called also beefalo.

Cattle

Quadrupeds of the Bovine family; sometimes, also, including all domestic quadrupeds, as sheep, goats, horses, mules, asses, and swine.

cattleship

a cargo ship for the transport of livestock.

cattleya

any orchid of the genus Cattleya characterized by a hood-shaped three-lobed lip enclosing the column; they are among the most popular and most extravagantly beautiful orchids known. Called also cattleya orchid.

Catty

An East Indian Weight of 1/ pounds.

catwalk

A narrow walkway projecting from a stage into the seating area of a theater; it is used, e. g. by models displaying clothes on it at a fashion show. Called also runway.

Caucasia

a large mountainous region between the Black and Caspian seas.

Caucasian

A native or inhabitant of the Caucasus, esp. a Circassian or Georgian.

caucasoid

belonging to the caucasian racial group.

Caucasus

a large region between the Black and Caspian seas.

Caucus

To hold, or meet in, a caucus or caucuses.

Caudad

Backwards; toward the tail or posterior part.

Caudal

Of the nature of, or pertaining to, a tail; having a tail-like appendage.

Caudated Caudate

Having a tail; having a terminal appendage like a tail. Opposite of acaudate.

Caudex

The stem of a tree., esp. a stem without a branch, as of a palm or a tree fern; also, the perennial rootstock of an herbaceous plant.

Caudicula Caudicle

A slender, elastic process, to which the masses of pollen in orchidaceous plants are attached.

Loading more words…