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Megascope

A modification of the magic lantern (projector), used esp. for throwing a magnified image of an opaque object on a screen, solar or artificial light being used.

Megascopical Megascopic

Of or pertaining to the megascope or the projection upon a screen of images of opaque objects. Enlarged or magnified; -- said of images or of photographic pictures, etc.

Megaseme

Having the orbital index relatively large; having the orbits narrow transversely; -- opposed to microseme.

Megasthene

One of a group which includes the higher orders of mammals, having a large size as a typical characteristic.

Megasthenic

Having a typically large size; belonging to the megasthenes.

Megastome

One of a group of univalve shells, having a large aperture or mouth.

Megatherium Megathere

An extinct gigantic quaternary mammal, allied to the ant-eaters and sloths. Its remains are found in South America.

Megatheroid

One of a family of extinct edentates found in America. The family includes the megatherium, the megalonyx, etc.

Megavolt

One of the larger measures of electro-motive force, amounting to one million volts.

Megerg

One of the larger measures of work, amounting to one million ergs; -- called also megalerg.

Megilph Megilp

A gelatinous compound of linseed oil and mastic varnish, used by artists as a vehicle for colors.

MEGO

A very dull article, speech, or book, which causes the reader or listener to rapidly lose interest; -- often used of involved discussions of a technical nature, especially in newspapers.

Megohm

One of the larger measures of electrical resistance, amounting to one million ohms.

Megrim

The British smooth sole, or scaldfish (Psetta arnoglossa).

Meibomian

Of, pertaining to, or discovered by, Meibomius.

Meiny Meine

A family, including servants, etc.; household; retinue; train.

Meionite

A member of the scapolite group, occuring in glassy crystals on Monte Somma, near Naples.

Meiosis

Diminution; a species of hyperbole, representing a thing as being less than it really is; understatement; see also litotes.

meiotic

Of or pertaining to meiosis; as, meiotic division.

Melaconite

An earthy black oxide of copper, arising from the decomposition of other ores.

Melado Melada

A mixture of sugar and molasses; crude sugar as it comes from the pans without being drained.

Melaena

A discharge from the bowels of black matter, consisting of altered blood.

Melain

The dark coloring matter of the liquid of the cuttlefish.

Melam

A white or buff-colored granular powder, C6H9N11, obtained by heating ammonium sulphocyanate.

melamine

A nitrogenous strongly basic chemical substance (C3H6N6), structurally 2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine, produced from several cyanogen compounds, and obtained as a white crystalline substance; -- formerly supposed to be produced by the decomposition of melam. Called also cyanuramide. It is used as one of the starting components (together with formaldehyde) in the preparation of melamine resins, including the commercially marketed Formica (TM). It is solid at room temperature, and sublimes at temperatures approaching 250/ C, decomposing at 345/ C. Density 1.573.

melamine-fromaldehyde methanal resin melamine resin

A thermosetting plastic formed by the reaction of melamine and formaldehyde. It is used for molding and for preparing laminated sheets used to surface counter tops, walls, and furniture. The commercially marketed Formica (TM) is one type of melamine resin.

Melampyrite Melampyrin

The saccharine substance dulcite; -- so called because found in the leaves of cowwheat (Melampyrum). See Dulcite.

Melanaemia

A morbid condition in which the blood contains black pigment either floating freely or imbedded in the white blood corpuscles.

Melanagogue

A medicine supposed to expel black bile or choler.

Melancholia

A kind of mental unsoundness characterized by extreme depression of spirits, ill-grounded fears, delusions, and brooding over one particular subject or train of ideas.

Melancholian

A person affected with melancholy; a melancholic.

Melancholy

Depressed in spirits; dejected; gloomy dismal.

Melanconiales

The smallest of the three orders of Fungi Imperfecti, including those with no asci nor pycnidia, but as a rule having the spores in cavities without special walls. They cause many of the plant diseases known as anthracnose.

Melanian

One of a family of fresh-water pectinibranchiate mollusks, having a turret-shaped shell.

Melaniline

A complex nitrogenous hydrocarbon obtained artificially (as by the action of cyanogen chloride on aniline) as a white, crystalline substance; -- called also diphenyl guanidin.

Melanin

A black pigment found in the pigment-bearing cells of the skin (particularly in the skin of the negro), in the epithelial cells of the external layer of the retina (then called fuscin), in the outer layer of the choroid, and elsewhere. It is supposed to be derived from the decomposition of hemoglobin.

Melanism

The character of having a high degree of pigmentation, as shown in dark skin, eyes, and hair.

Melanistic

Affected with melanism; of the nature of melanism.

Melanochroi

A group of the human race, including the dark whites.

Melanochroic

Having a dark complexion; of or pertaining to the Melanochroi.

Melanochroite

A mineral of a red, or brownish or yellowish red color. It is a chromate of lead; -- called also phoenicocroite.

Melanoma

A tumor containing dark pigment. Such tumors are usually malignant and often fatal. Development of dark-pigmented tumors.

Melanorrhoea

An East Indian genus of large trees. Melanorrh/a usitatissima is the lignum-vitae of Pegu (in Burma), and yields a valuable black varnish.

Melanoscope

An instrument containing a combination of colored glasses such that they transmit only red light, so that objects of other colors, as green leaves, appear black when seen through it. It is used for viewing colored flames, to detect the presence of potassium, lithium, etc., by the red light which they emit.

Melanosperm

An alga of any kind that produces blackish spores, or seed dust. The melanosperms include the rockweeds and all kinds of kelp.

Melanotype

A positive picture produced with sensitized collodion on a smooth surface of black varnish, coating a thin plate of iron; also, the process of making such a picture.

Melanterite

A hydrous sulphate of iron of a green color and vitreous luster; iron vitriol.

Melanure

A small fish of the Mediterranean; a gilthead. See Gilthead (a).

Melanuric

Pertaining to, or designating, a complex nitrogenous acid obtained by decomposition of melam, or of urea, as a white crystalline powder; -- called also melanurenic acid.

Melaphyre

Any one of several dark-colored augitic, eruptive rocks allied to basalt.

Melasma

A dark discoloration of the skin, usually local; as, Addison's melasma, or Addison's disease.

Melassic

Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from molasses or glucose, and probably identical with saccharic acid (also called D-glucaric acid or tetrahydroxyadipic acid). See Saccharic.

Melastoma

A genus of evergreen tropical shrubs; -- so called from the black berries of some species, which stain the mouth.

melatonin

A hormone secreted by the pineal gland. Chemically it is N-acety-5-methoxytryptamine. Research has indicated that there are daily rhythms in secretion of melatonin, in particular due to the depressing effect on melatonin production by light received by the retina. Conversely it appears that melatonin may influence the circadian rhythms of animals. There is some experimental evidence that administration of melatonin may increase the amount of sleep in people with sleep disorders. However, the evidence is not convincing and the effect is not profound. Nevertheless, the deregulation of melatonin and its availability over-the-counter has led to many people taking melatonin to help sleep, without consulting a physician.

Melchite

One of a sect, chiefly in Syria and Egypt, which acknowledges the authority of the pope, but adheres to the liturgy and ceremonies of the Eastern Church.

Meld

In the game of pinochle, to declare or announce for a score; as, to meld a sequence.

meld

Any combination or score which may be declared, or melded, in pinochle.

Meleagrididae

A natural family of fowls including the turkeys and some extinct forms.

Meleagrine

Of or pertaining to the genus Meleagris.

Meleagris

A genus of American gallinaceous birds, including the common turkey and the wild turkeys.

Melee

A fight in which the combatants are mingled in one confused mass; a hand to hand conflict; an affray.

Melene

An unsaturated hydrocarbon, C30H60, of the ethylene series, obtained from beeswax as a white, scaly, crystalline wax; -- called also melissene, and melissylene.

Melenite

An explosive of great destructive power; -- so called from its color, which resembles honey.

Melezitose

A variety of sugar, isomeric with sucrose, extracted from the manna of the larch (Larix).

Meliaceous

Pertaining to a natural order (Meliacae) of plants of which the genus Melia is the type. It includes the mahogany and the Spanish cedar.

Melicerous

Consisting of or containing matter like honey; -- said of certain encysted tumors.

Melilite

A mineral occurring in small yellow crystals, found in the lavas (melilite basalt) of Vesuvius, and elsewhere.

Melilot

Any species of Melilotus, a genus of leguminous herbs having a vanillalike odor; sweet clover; hart's clover. The blue melilot (Melilotus caerulea) is used in Switzerland to give color and flavor to sapsago cheese.

Melilotic

Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, sweet clover or melilot; specifically, designating an acid of the aromatic series, obtained from melilot as a white crystalline substance.

Melinae

A subdivision of mammals not used in some classifications; it includes the badgers.

Melinite

A high explosive similar to lyddite, consisting principally of picric acid, used in the French military service.

Melioration

The act or operation of meliorating, or the state of being meliorated; improvement.

Meliorism

The doctrine that there is a tendency throughout nature toward improvement.

Meliority

The state or quality of being better; melioration.

Meliphagan

Any bird of the genus Meliphaga and allied genera; a honey eater; -- called also meliphagidan.

Melisma

A piece of melody; a song or tune, -- as opposed to recitative or musical declamation. A grace or embellishment.

Melissa

A genus of labiate herbs, including the balm, or bee balm (Melissa officinalis).

Melissic

Pertaining to, or derived from, beeswax; specif., denoting an acid obtained by oxidation of myricin.

Melitose

A variety of sugar isomeric with sucrose, extracted from cotton seeds and from the so-called Australian manna (a secretion of certain species of Eucalyptus).

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