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Glossary · Nouns · A

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TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Alpha-Tocopheralnouna potent form of vitamin E obtained from germ oils or by synthesisverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alphabetnouna character set that includes letters and is used to write a languageverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alphabet SoupnounMWEsoup that contains small noodles in the shape of letters of the alphabetverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alphabetic CharacternounMWEthe conventional characters of the alphabet used to represent speechverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alphabetic ScriptnounMWEa writing system based on alphabetic charactersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alphabetic WritingnounMWEa writing system based on alphabetic charactersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alphabetisationnounthe act of putting in alphabetical orderverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alphabetisernouna literate person who can arrange items in alphabetical orderverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alphabetizationnounthe act of putting in alphabetical orderverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alphabetizernouna literate person who can arrange items in alphabetical orderverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alphanumeric CharactersnounMWEa character set that includes letters and digits and punctuationverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alphanumeric DisplaynounMWEa display that gives the information in the form of characters (numbers or letters)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Alphanumericsnouna character set that includes letters and digits and punctuationverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alphavirusnounan arbovirus of the family Togaviridae that can cause a variety of encephalitis in horsesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alpine AshnounMWEtall timber tree with hard heavy pinkish or light brown woodverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alpine AzaleanounMWEcreeping mat-forming evergreen shrub of high mountain regions of northern hemisphere grown for its rose-pink flowersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alpine BearberrynounMWEdeciduous creeping shrub bright red in autumn having black or blue-black berriesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alpine ClovernounMWEEuropean mountain clover with fragrant usually pink flowersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alpine ClubmossnounMWEa variety of club mossverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alpine ColtsfootnounMWErhizomatous herb with purple-red flowers suitable for groundcoververifiedMay 18, 2026
Alpine GoldenrodnounMWEgoldenrod similar to narrow goldenrod but having bristly hairs on edges of leaf stalksverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alpine HulseanounMWElow tufted plant having hairy stems each topped by a flower head with short narrow yellow raysverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alpine LiftnounMWEa surface lift where riders hold a bar and are pulled up the hill on their skisverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alpine Milk VetchnounMWEperennial of mountainous areas of Eurasia and North AmericaverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alpine SalamandernounMWEovoviviparous amphibian of the AlpsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alpine SunflowernounMWEwhitish hairy plant with featherlike leaves and a few stout stems each bearing an especially handsome solitary large yellow flower headverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alpine TotaranounMWElow wide-spreading coniferous shrub of New Zealand mountainsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alpinismnounmountain climbing (not restricted to the Alps)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Alpinistnouna mountain climber who specializes in difficult climbsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alprazolamnounan antianxiety agent (trade name Xanax) of the benzodiazepine classverifiedMay 18, 2026
Also-Rannouna contestant who loses the contestverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alstroemerianounany of various South American plants of the genus Alstroemeria valued for their handsome umbels of beautiful flowersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altarnouna raised structure on which gifts or sacrifices to a god are madeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altar BoynounMWEa boy serving as an acolyteverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altar WinenounMWEused in a communion serviceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altarpiecenouna painted or carved screen placed above and behind an altar or communion tableverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altazimuthnounan instrument that measures the altitude and azimuth of celestial bodiesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alter EgonounMWEa very close and trusted friend who seems almost a part of yourselfverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alterabilitynounthe quality of being alterableverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alterationnounan event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to anotherverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altercationnounnoisy quarrelverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alteringnounthe sterilization of an animalverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alternate COMSEC CustodiannounMWEIndividual designated by proper authority to perform the duties of the COMSEC custodian during the temporary absence of the COMSEC custodian.RoleMay 9, 2026
Alternate facilitiesnounMWELocations and infrastructures from which emergency or backup processes are executed, when the main premises are unavailable or destroyed Scope Note: Includes other buildings, offices or data processing centersPhysicalRestrictedMay 9, 2026
alternate network communications procedurenounMWEA specifically laid out course of action to ensure that communication is not disrupted if the main network is inaccessible; must include access to a secondary communication network.RequirementMay 9, 2026
Alternate processnounMWEAutomatic or manual process designed and established to continue critical business processes from point-of- failure to return-to-normalProcessRegulatedMay 12, 2026
Alternate Site Test / ExercisenounMWEA business continuity testing activity that tests the capability of staff, systems, and facilities, located at sites other than those generally designated for primary processing and business functions, to effectively support production processing and workloads. During the exercise, business line staff located at recovery site(s) participate in testing business functions and the supporting systems by performing typical production activities, including accessing applications and completing pending transactions. Staff members participate in testing alternate site facilities through the use of PCs, phones, and other equipment needed to perform testing of business activities.ProcessInternalMay 9, 2026
Alternate Work SitenounMWEGovernmentwide, national program allowing federal employees to work at home or at geographically convenient satellite offices for part of the work week (e.g., telecommuting).PhysicalRegulatedMay 12, 2026
Alternating CurrentnounMWEan electric current that reverses direction sinusoidallyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alternating Electric CurrentnounMWEan electric current that reverses direction sinusoidallyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alternationnounsuccessive change from one thing or state to another and back againverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alternation of GenerationsnounMWEthe alternation of two or more different forms in the life cycle of a plant or animalverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alternative BirthnounMWEa method of childbirth that avoids intrusive high-tech medicine in favor of more natural and homely settingsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alternative BirthingnounMWEa method of childbirth that avoids intrusive high-tech medicine in favor of more natural and homely settingsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alternative EnergynounMWEenergy derived from sources that do not use up natural resources or harm the environmentverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alternative MedicinenounMWEthe practice of medicine without the use of drugsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alternative PleadingnounMWEa pleading that alleges facts so separate that it is difficult to determine which facts the person intends to rely onverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alternatornounan old term for an electric generator that produces alternating current (especially in automobiles)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Althaeanounany of various plants of the genus AlthaeaverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altheanounany of various plants of the genus AlthaeaverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altimeternounan instrument that measures the height above groundverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altitudenounthe perpendicular distance from the base of a geometric figure to the opposite vertex (or side if parallel)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Altitude SicknessnounMWEeffects, such as nosebleed or nausea, of oxygen deficiency in the blood and tissues at high altitudesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alto ClefnounMWEa clef that puts middle C on the third line of a staffverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alto RelievonounMWEa sculptural relief in which forms extend out from the background to at least half their depthverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alto RilievonounMWEa sculptural relief in which forms extend out from the background to at least half their depthverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alto SaxophonistnounMWEa musician who plays the alto saxophoneverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altocumulusnouna cumulus cloud at an intermediate altitude of 2 or 3 milesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altocumulus CloudnounMWEa cumulus cloud at an intermediate altitude of 2 or 3 milesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altogethernouninformal terms for nakednessverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altoistnouna musician who plays the alto saxophoneverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altostratusnouna stratus cloud at an intermediate altitude of 2 or 3 milesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altostratus CloudnounMWEa stratus cloud at an intermediate altitude of 2 or 3 milesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altruismnounthe quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of othersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Altruistnounsomeone who makes charitable donations intended to increase human well-beingverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alulanounscalelike structure between the base of the wing and the halter of a two-winged flyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alumnouna double sulphate of aluminum and potassium that is used as an astringent (among other things)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Alumbloomnounany of several herbs of the genus HeucheraverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aluminanounany of various forms of aluminum oxide occurring naturally as corundumverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aluminatenouna compound of alumina and a metallic oxideverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aluminiumnouna silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxiteverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aluminium BronzenounMWEan alloy of copper and aluminum with high tensile strength and resistance to corrosionverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aluminium ChloridenounMWEa chloride used as a wood preservative or catalystverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aluminium FoilnounMWEfoil made of aluminumverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aluminium HydroxidenounMWEwhite crystalline compound that occurs naturally as the mineral gibbsiteverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aluminium OxidenounMWEany of various forms of aluminum oxide occurring naturally as corundumverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aluminumnouna silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxiteverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aluminum BronzenounMWEan alloy of copper and aluminum with high tensile strength and resistance to corrosionverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aluminum BusinessnounMWEmanufacturers of aluminum considered as a groupverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aluminum ChloridenounMWEa chloride used as a wood preservative or catalystverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aluminum FoilnounMWEfoil made of aluminumverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aluminum HydroxidenounMWEwhite crystalline compound that occurs naturally as the mineral gibbsiteverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aluminum IndustrynounMWEmanufacturers of aluminum considered as a groupverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aluminum OxidenounMWEany of various forms of aluminum oxide occurring naturally as corundumverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alumnanouna person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Alumnusnouna person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Alumrootnounany of several herbs of the genus HeucheraverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alundumnouna substance made of fused aluminaverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alveolar ArchnounMWEthe part of the upper or lower jawbones in which the teeth are setverifiedMay 18, 2026
Alveolar BednounMWElung tissue densely packed with alveoliverifiedMay 18, 2026