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Metier

Calling; vocation; business; trade.

Metisse Metis

The offspring of a white person and an American Indian.

Metoche

The space between two dentils. The space between two triglyphs.

Metol

A whitish soluble powder used as a developer in photography. Chemically, it is the sulphate of methyl-p-amino-m-cresol.

Metonic

Pertaining to, or discovered by, Meton, the Athenian.

Metonymical Metonymic

Used by way of metonymy; using the name of one thing for that of another with which it is closely associated.

Metonymy

A trope in which one word is put for another that suggests it; as, we say, a man keeps a good table instead of good provisions; we read Virgil, that is, his poems; a man has a warm heart, that is, warm affections; a city dweller has no wheels, that is, no automobile.

Metope

The space between two triglyphs of the Doric frieze, which, among the ancients, was often adorned with carved work. See Illust. of Entablature.

Metopic

Of or pertaining to the forehead or frontal bones; frontal; as, the metopic suture.

Metoposcopy

The study of physiognomy; the art of discovering the character of persons by their features, or the lines of the face.

Metosteon

The postero-lateral ossification in the sternum of birds; also, the part resulting from such ossification.

Metre Meter

Rhythmical arrangement of syllables or words into verses, stanzas, strophes, etc.; poetical measure, depending on number, quantity, and accent of syllables; rhythm; measure; verse; also, any specific rhythmical arrangements; as, the Horatian meters; a dactylic meter.

Metric

Relating to measurement; involving, or proceeding by, measurement.

Metric system

A system of weights and measures originating in France, the use of which is required by law in many countries, and permitted in many others, including the United States; the system is also called by its French name, Le Syst/me International de Unit/s (abbreviated SI). The principal unit of length is the meter (see Meter). From this are formed the are, the liter, the stere, the gram, etc. These units, and others derived from them, are divided decimally, and larger units are formed from multiples by 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000. The successive multiplies are designated by the prefixes, deka- (formerly deca-), hecto-, kilo-, and myria- (seldom used); successive parts by deci-, centi-, and milli-. The prefixes mega- and micro- are used to denote a multiple by one million, and the millionth part, respectively; giga- and nano- denote multiples of one billion (1,000,000,000) and one billionth, respectively. The prefix for one trillion (1012) is tera, and for one trillionth (10-12) is pico; for one quintillion (1015) peta, and for (10-15) (one quintillionth) femto; for (10-18) atto. See the words formed with these prefixes in the Vocabulary. For metric tables, see p. 1682.

Metrical

Of or pertaining to the meter; arranged in meter; consisting of verses; as, metrical compositions.

metrication

The act or process of converting the standard system of units of a country to those of the metric system; metrification; as, Great Britain has completed its metrification, but the United States still resists complete change.

Metrograph

An instrument attached to a locomotive for recording its speed and the number and duration of its stops.

Metrology

The science of, or a system of, weights and measures; also, a treatise on the subject.

Metrometer

An instrument for measuring the size of the womb.

Metronome

An instrument consisting of a short pendulum with a sliding weight. It is set in motion by clockwork, and serves to measure time in music.

Metronomy

Measurement of time by an instrument.

Metronymic

Derived from the name of one's mother, or other female ancestor; as, a metronymic name or appellation. A metronymic appellation.

Metropolitan

The superior or presiding bishop of a country or province.

Metropolitical

Of or pertaining to a metropolis; being a metropolis; metropolitan; as, the metropolitical chair.

Metrorrhagia

Profuse bleeding from the womb, esp. such as does not occur at the menstrual period.

Metroscope

A modification of the stethoscope, for directly auscultating the uterus from the vagina.

Metrosideros

A myrtaceous genus of trees or shrubs, found in Australia and the South Sea Islands, and having very hard wood. Metrosideros vera is the true ironwood.

Metrotome

An instrument for cutting or scarifying the uterus or the neck of the uterus.

Metrotomy

The operation of cutting into the uterus; hysterotomy; the Caesarean section.

Mette

imp. of Mete, to dream.

Mettle

Substance or quality of temperament; spirit, esp. as regards honor, courage, fortitude, ardor, etc.; disposition; -- usually in a good sense; as, to test a person's mettle.

Mettled

Having mettle; high-spirited; ardent; full of fire.

Mettlesome

Full of spirit; possessing constitutional ardor; fiery; as, a mettlesome horse.

Meum

Lit., mine; that which is mine; -- used in the phrase meum et tuum, or meum and tuum; as, to confound meum and tuum, to fail to distinguish one's own property from that of others; to be dishonest.

Meuse

A European river, flowing into the North Sea.

Meuse-Argonne

an American operation in World War I (1918); American troops under Pershing drove back the German armies which were saved only by the Armistice on November 11.

Meute

A cage for hawks; a mew. See 4th Mew, 1.

Mew

The common cry of a cat.

Mewl

To cry, as a young child; to squall.

Mews

An alley where there are stables; a narrow passage; a confined place.

Mexican

Of or pertaining to Mexico or its people. A native or inhabitant of Mexico.

Mexicanize

To become like the Mexicans, or their country or government.

Mezereon

A small European shrub (Daphne Mezereum), whose acrid bark is used in medicine.

Mezuzoth Mezuzah Mezuza

A piece of parchment bearing the Decalogue and attached to the doorpost; -- in use among orthodox Hebrews. The term is also used to refer to the small case containing this scroll, together with the biblical inscription inside. The text is usually taken from Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21.

Mezzanine

Same as Entresol. A partial story which is not on the same level with the story of the main part of the edifice, as of a back building, where the floors are on a level with landings of the staircase of the main house.

Mezzo-rilievo

A middle degree of relief in figures, between high and low relief. Sculpture in this kind of relief. See under Alto-rilievo.

Mezzo-soprano

Having a medium compass between the soprano and contralto; -- said of the voice of a female singer. A mezzo-soprano voice. A person having such a voice.

Mezzotinto

To engrave in mezzotint; to represent by mezzotint.

Mho

A unit of conductivity, being the reciprocal of the ohm.

Mhometer

An instrument for measuring conductivity.

Mi

A syllable applied to the third tone of the scale of C, i. e., to E, in European solmization, but to the third tone of any scale in the American system.

Miamis

A tribe of Indians that formerly occupied the country between the Wabash and Maumee rivers.

Miargyrite

A mineral of an iron-black color, and very sectile, consisting principally of sulphur, antimony, and silver.

Mias

The orang-outang.

Miascite

A granitoid rock containing feldspar, biotite, elaeolite, and sodalite.

Miasma

Infectious particles or germs floating in the air; air made noxious by the presence of such particles or germs; noxious effluvia; malaria.

Miasmal

Containing miasma; miasmatic.

Miasmatist

One who has made a special study of miasma.

Miasmology

That department of medical science which treats of miasma.

Miaul

The crying of a cat.

Mica

The name of a group of minerals characterized by highly perfect cleavage, so that they readily separate into very thin leaves, more or less elastic. They differ widely in composition, and vary in color from pale brown or yellow to green or black. The transparent forms are used in lanterns, the doors of stoves, etc., being popularly called isinglass. Formerly called also cat-silver, and glimmer.

Micaceo-calcareous

Partaking of the nature of, or consisting of, mica and lime; -- applied to a mica schist containing carbonate of lime.

Micaceous

Pertaining to, or containing, mica; splitting into laminae or leaves like mica.

Micella

A theoretical aggregation of molecules constituting a structural particle of protoplasm, capable of increase or diminution without change in chemical nature.

Michaelmas

The feast of the archangel Michael, a church festival, celebrated on the 29th of September. Hence, colloquially, autumn.

Miche Mich

To lie hid; to skulk; to act, or carry one's self, sneakingly.

Michelangelo

Michelangelo Buonarroti, renowned Italian painter, sculptor and architect; 1475-1564.

Micher

One who skulks, or keeps out of sight; hence, a truant; an idler; a thief, etc.

Mickey Mick

a person of Irish descent; -- an ethnic slur, offensive and disparaging.

Micmacs

A tribe of Indians inhabiting Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Mico

A small South American monkey (Mico melanurus), allied to the marmoset. The name was originally applied to an albino variety.

Micraster

A genus of sea urchins, similar to Spatangus, abounding in the chalk formation; -- from the starlike disposal of the ambulacral furrows.

micro-chemistry microchemistry

The application of chemical tests to minute objects or portions of matter, usually assisted by sensitive instruments; -- distinguished from macro-chemistry.

Micro-geology

The part of geology relating to structure and organisms which require to be studied with a microscope.

Microampere

One of the smaller measures of electrical currents; the millionth part of one amp/re.

Microanalysis

Analysis of the structure of materials from careful observation of photomicrographs.

Microbacteria

In the classification of Cohn, one of the four tribes of Bacteria.

Microbarograph

An instrument for recording minor fluctuations of atmospheric pressure, as opposed to general barometric surges.

microbian microbial

Of, pertaining to, or caused by, microbes; as, microbial growth; the microbian theory; a microbian disease.

Microbicide

Any agent detrimental to, or destructive of, the life of microbes or bacterial organisms.

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