Glossary · Nouns · A
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TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Abhorrernouna signer of a 1679 address to Charles II in which those who petitioned for the reconvening of parliament were condemned and abhorredverified
Abiogenesisnouna hypothetical organic phenomenon by which living organisms are created from nonliving matterverified
Abiotrophynouna loss of vitality and a degeneration of cells and tissues not due to any apparent injuryverified
Ablative CasenounMWEthe case indicating the agent in passive sentences or the instrument or manner or place of the action described by the verbverified
Ablautnouna vowel whose quality or length is changed to indicate linguistic distinctions (such as sing sang sung song)verified
Abnormalcynounan abnormal physical condition resulting from defective genes or developmental deficienciesverified
Abnormalitynounan abnormal physical condition resulting from defective genes or developmental deficienciesverified
Abocclusionnounthe condition in which the upper teeth do not touch the lower teeth when bitingverified
Abolishmentnounthe act of abolishing a system or practice or institution (especially abolishing slavery)verified
Abolitionnounthe act of abolishing a system or practice or institution (especially abolishing slavery)verified
Abortusnouna human fetus whose weight is less than 0.5 kilogram when removed or expelled from the mother's bodyverified
Abrading StonenounMWEa primitive stone artifact (usually made of sandstone) used as an abraderverified
Abruptio PlacentaenounMWEa disorder of pregnancy in which the placenta prematurely separates from the wall of the uterusverified
Abscessnounsymptom consisting of a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissueverified
Abscissionnounshedding of flowers and leaves and fruit following formation of scar tissue in a plantverified
Abseilernouna person who descends down a nearly vertical face by using a doubled rope that is wrapped around the body and attached to some high pointverified
Absencenounthe occurrence of an abrupt, transient loss or impairment of consciousness (which is not subsequently remembered), sometimes with light twitching, fluttering eyelids, etc.verified
Absence SeizurenounMWEthe occurrence of an abrupt, transient loss or impairment of consciousness (which is not subsequently remembered), sometimes with light twitching, fluttering eyelids, etc.verified
Absentee BallotnounMWEa ballot that is cast while absent, usually mailed in prior to election dayverified
Absentmindednessnounpreoccupation so great that the ordinary demands on attention are ignoredverified
Absinthenounaromatic herb of temperate Eurasia and North Africa having a bitter taste used in making the liqueur absintheverified
Absolute CeilingnounMWEthe maximum altitude at which an airplane can maintain horizontal flightverified
Absolute MagnitudenounMWE(astronomy) the magnitude that a star would have if it were viewed from a distance of 10 parsecs (32.62 light years) from the earthverified