Glossary · MWE Terms · P
L1 — paginated flat list. Pick a POS, pick a letter.
TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Photoelectric EmissionnounMWEthe release or absorption of quanta above a certain energy levelverified
Photogelatin ProcessnounMWEa photomechanical printing process that uses a glass plate with a gelatin surface that carries the image to be reproducedverified
Photographic DensitynounMWE(physics) a measure of the extent to which a substance transmits light or other electromagnetic radiationverified
Photographic FilmnounMWEphotographic material consisting of a base of celluloid covered with a photographic emulsionverified
Photographic PlatenounMWEa flat sheet of metal or glass on which a photographic image can be recordedverified
Photoplate MakingnounMWEthe process whereby printing surfaces (plates or cylinders) are produced by photographic methodsverified
Photostat MachinenounMWEa duplicating machine that makes quick positive or negative copies directly on the surface of prepared paperverified
Phrasal IdiomnounMWEan expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it upverified
Phrasal VerbnounMWEan English verb followed by one or more particles where the combination behaves as a syntactic and semantic unitverified
Phrase BooknounMWEa book containing common expressions in a foreign language along with their translationsverified
Phrenic NervenounMWEone of a pair of nerves that arises from cervical spinal roots and passes down the thorax to innervate the diaphragm and control breathingverified
Physic NutnounMWEsmall tropical American tree yielding purple dye and a tanning extract and bearing physic nuts containing a purgative oil that is poisonous in large quantitiesverified
physical accessnounMWEThe ability of people to physically gain access to a computer system or facility.verified
physical access controlnounMWEA mechanism, system, or barrier that prevents unauthorized physical access to an area or a facility.verified
physical access control systemnounMWEPhysical access control enables an authority to control admission to areas and resources in a physical facility. A physical access control system may restrict access via swipe cards, Personal Identity Verification (PIV) 'Smart' cards, and biometric (i.e. fingerprint) readers. Physical access control systems are generally seen as the second layer in the security of a physical facility after fences, doors and barriers.verified
Physical Access Control system maintenance and testing programnounMWEA documented listing of procedures, schedules, roles and responsibilities, and plans to be performed to ensure continued maintenance and testing of the Physical Access Control System.verified
physical actionnounMWEA category of security control behavior in which compliance depends on deliberate, in-the-world conduct by a user — handling, carrying, locking away, or otherwise manipulating a tangible object or device — rather than on an automated or purely logical mechanism. NIST SP 800-171r3 uses the phrase in the context that "protection and control of mobile devices are behavior- or policy-based and require users to take physical action to protect and control such devices when outside of controlled areas." This distinguishes it from technical or administrative controls that operate without user involvement: the safeguard only fires if a person acts in the physical world (e.g., securing a device, locking a case, removing media). It is used in standards and compliance frameworks to flag control requirements that cannot be automated and therefore depend on training, policy, and human follow-through for their effectiveness.verified
Physical AnthropologynounMWEthe branch of anthropology dealing with the genesis and variation of human beingsverified
Physical ChangenounMWEa change from one state (solid or liquid or gas) to another without a change in chemical compositionverified
Physical ChemistrynounMWEthe branch of chemistry dealing with the physical properties of chemical substancesverified
physical environmentnounMWEThe physical external surrounding and conditions in which something exists.verified
physical operating environment authority documentnounMWEStatutes, regulations, safe harbors, audit guidelines, best practices, Service Level Agreements, Contractual Obligations, organizational policies and procedures, and any other documents that defines the temperatures, humidity levels, electromagnetic levels, vibration levels, power levels, and space required for any device to operate properly.verified
Physical PendulumnounMWEpendulum consisting of an actual object allowed to rotate freely around a horizontal axisverified
Physical PhenomenonnounMWEa natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energyverified
Physical ProcessnounMWEa sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of statesverified
Physical PropertynounMWEany property used to characterize matter and energy and their interactionsverified
physical protectionnounMWENo definition is given in NIST SP 800-171r3. The term is attested in use at 2 citations in that document; a definition is pending curation.verified
physical securitynounMWEThe protection of personnel, hardware, programs, networks, and data from physical circumstances and events that could cause serious losses or damage to an enterprise, agency, or institution. This includes protection from fire, natural disasters, burglary, theft, vandalism, and terrorism.verified
physical security controlnounMWEDevices that relies on the proper application of physical barriers and deterrents to control behavior. It's through the use of physical controls that an organization controls physical access to facilities and systems. They also assist in maintaining the operating environments necessary to continue information processing and delivery activities.verified
physical security perimeternounMWEA type of gate, door, wall, or fence system that is intended to restrict and control the physical access or egress of personnel.verified
physical security plannounMWEA formal document that provides an overview of the security requirements for a physical security program and describes the security controls in place or planned for meeting those requirements.verified
Physical StructurenounMWEthe entire structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)verified
Physical TherapistnounMWEtherapist who treats injury or dysfunction with exercises and other physical treatments of the disorderverified
Physical TherapynounMWEtherapy that uses physical agents: exercise and massage and other modalitiesverified
Physical ValuenounMWEcost of reproducing physical property minus various allowances (especially depreciation)verified
Physically Isolated NetworknounMWEA network that is not connected to entities or systems outside a physically controlled space.verified
Physician-Patient PrivilegenounMWEthe right of a physician to refuse to divulge confidential information from a patient without the consent of the patientverified
Physics DepartmentnounMWEthe academic department responsible for teaching and research in physicsverified
Physiological PsychologynounMWEthe branch of psychology that is concerned with the physiological bases of psychological processesverified
Physiological SphincternounMWEa sphincter that is not recognizable at autopsy because its resting arrangement cannot be distinguished from adjacent tissueverified