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Glossary · Nouns · A

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TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
AssurancenounGrounds for confidence that the other four security goals (integrity, availability, confidentiality, and accountability) have been adequately met by a specific implementation. “Adequately met” includes (1) functionality that performs correctly, (2) sufficient protection against unintentional errors (by users or software), and (3) sufficient resistance to intentional penetration or by-pass.CapabilityMay 9, 2026
Assurance CasenounMWEA structured set of arguments and a body of evidence showing that an information system satisfies specific claims with respect to a given quality attribute.ArtifactConfidentialAug 30, 2026
Assured Information SharingnounMWEThe ability to confidently share information with those who need it, when and where they need it, as determined by operational need and an acceptable level of security risk.CapabilityRegulatedCUIMay 9, 2026
Assured SoftwarenounMWEComputer application that has been designed, developed, analyzed, and tested using processes, tools, and techniques that establish a level of confidence in it.SystemMay 9, 2026
Assurednessnoungreat coolness and composure under strainverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astasianouninability to stand due to muscular incoordinationverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astatic CoilsnounMWEan arrangement of coils used in sensitive electrical instrumentsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astatic GalvanometernounMWEhas a moving magnet and astatic coils arranged to cancel the effect of the Earth's magnetic fieldverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astatinenouna highly unstable radioactive element (the heaviest of the halogen series)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Asternounstar-shaped structure formed in the cytoplasm of a cell having fibers like rays that surround the centrosome during mitosisverifiedMay 18, 2026
Aster FamilynounMWEplants with heads composed of many florets: asterverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astereognosisnouna loss of the ability to recognize objects by handling themverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asterid Dicot FamilynounMWEfamily of more or less advanced dicotyledonous herbs and some trees and shrubsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asterid Dicot GenusnounMWEgenus of more or less advanced dicotyledonous herbs and some trees and shrubsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asterionnounthe craniometric point at the junction of the lamboid suture and the occipitomastoid suture and the parietomastoid sutureverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asterismnoun(mineralogy) a star-shaped figure with six rays that is seen in some crystal structures under reflected or transmitted lightverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asteroid BeltnounMWEthe region of interplanetary space between Mars and Jupiter where most asteroids are foundverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asthenianounan abnormal loss of strengthverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asthenic TypenounMWEslender, weak, and lightweightverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asthenopianouna tiredness of the eyes caused by prolonged close work by a person with an uncorrected vision problemverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asthenospherenounthe lower layer of the crustverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asthenynounan abnormal loss of strengthverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asthmanounrespiratory disorder characterized by wheezingverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asthma AttacknounMWErespiratory disorder characterized by wheezingverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astigmatismnoun(optics) defect in an optical system in which light rays from a single point fail to converge in a single focal pointverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astigmianoun(optics) defect in an optical system in which light rays from a single point fail to converge in a single focal pointverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astilbenounany plant of the genus Astilbe having compound leaves and showy panicles of tiny colorful flowersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astonishmentnounthe feeling that accompanies something extremely surprisingverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astragalnounthe bone in the ankle that articulates with the leg bones to form the ankle jointverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astragalusnounthe bone in the ankle that articulates with the leg bones to form the ankle jointverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astrakhannounthe fur of young lambsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astrantianounany plant of the genus AstrantiaverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astraphobianouna morbid fear of thunder and lightningverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astringencenouna sharp astringent tasteverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astringencynounthe ability to contract or draw together soft body tissues to check blood flow or restrict secretion of fluidsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astringent DrugnounMWEa drug that causes contraction of body tissues and canalsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astrobiologynounthe branch of biology concerned with the effects of outer space on living organisms and the search for extraterrestrial lifeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astrocytenouncomparatively large neuroglial cellverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astrodomenouna transparent dome on top of an airplane where the navigator can make celestial observationsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astrodynamicsnounthe branch of astronomy that studies the motion of natural and artificial bodies in spaceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astrogatornounthe navigator of a spacecraftverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astroglianountissue consisting of large stellate neuroglial cellsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astrolabenounan early form of sextantverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astrolatrynounthe worship of planets or starsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astrologernounsomeone who predicts the future by the positions of the planets and sun and MoonverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astrologistnounsomeone who predicts the future by the positions of the planets and sun and MoonverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astrologynouna pseudoscience claiming divination by the positions of the planets and sun and moonverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astrometrynounthe branch of astronomy that deals with the measurement of the position and motion of celestial bodiesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astronautnouna person trained to travel in a spacecraftverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astronauticsnounthe theory and practice of navigation through air or spaceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astronavigationnounnavigating according to the positions of the starsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astronomernouna physicist who studies astronomyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astronomical TelescopenounMWEany telescope designed to collect and record electromagnetic radiation from cosmic sourcesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astronomical YearnounMWEthe time for the earth to make one revolution around the sun, measured between two vernal equinoxesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astronomynounthe branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a wholeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astronomy SatellitenounMWEa satellite equipped with a telescope to observe infrared radiationverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astronomy UnitnounMWEa linear unit used for astronomical distancesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astrophysicistnounan astronomer who studies the physical properties of celestial bodiesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astrophysicsnounthe branch of astronomy concerned with the physical and chemical properties of celestial bodiesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Astutenessnounintelligence manifested by being astute (as in business dealings)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Asylumnouna hospital for mentally incompetent or unbalanced personverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asymmetric CryptographynounMWEPublic-key cryptography; A modern branch of cryptography in which the algorithms employ a pair of keys (a public key and a private key) and use a different component of the pair for different steps of the algorithm.CapabilityMay 9, 2026
Asymmetric keynounMWEA cipher technique in which different cryptographic keys are used to encrypt and decrypt a message Scope Note: See Public key encryption.CredentialRestrictedAug 30, 2026
Asymmetric WarfarenounMWEAsymmetric warfare is the fact that a small investment, properly leveraged, can yield incredible results.ThreatAug 30, 2026
Asymmetrynoun(mathematics) a lack of symmetryverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asymptotenouna straight line that is the limiting value of a curveverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asynchronismnounthe relation that exists when things occur at unrelated timesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asynchronous data replicationnounMWEA process for copying data from one source to another while the application processing continues; an acknowledgement of the receipt of data at the copy location is not required for processing to continue. Consequently, the content of databases stored in alternate facilities may differ from those at the original storage site, and copies of data may not contain current information at the time of a disruption in processing as a result of the time (in fractions of a second) required to transmit the data over a communications network to the alternate facility. This technology is typically used to transfer data over greater distances than that allowed with synchronous data replication.ProcessAug 30, 2026
Asynchronous OperationnounMWEoperations that occur without a regular or predictable time relation to other eventsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asynchronous transfer modenounMWEThe method of transmitting bits of data one after another with a start bit and a stop bit to mark the beginning and end of each data unit. Can also mean automated teller machine.NetworkMay 9, 2026
Asynchronynounthe relation that exists when things occur at unrelated timesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asynclitismnounthe presentation during labor of the head of the fetus at an abnormal angleverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asyndetonnounthe omission of conjunctions where they would normally be usedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asynergianounabsence of coordination of organs or body parts that usually work together harmoniouslyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asynergynounabsence of coordination of organs or body parts that usually work together harmoniouslyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Asystolenounabsence of systoleverifiedMay 18, 2026
Atnoun100 at equal 1 kip in LaosverifiedMay 18, 2026
At HomenounMWEa reception held in your own homeverifiedMay 18, 2026
At-Batnoun(baseball) a turn trying to get a hitverifiedMay 18, 2026
Atactic AbasianounMWEabasia due to ataxia of the legsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Atarnounessential oil or perfume obtained from flowersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ataractic DrugnounMWEa drug used to reduce stress or tension without reducing mental clarityverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ataraxianounpeace of mindverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ataraxisnounthe absence of mental stress or anxietyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Atavismnouna reappearance of an earlier characteristicverifiedMay 18, 2026
Atavistnounan organism that has the characteristics of a more primitive type of that organismverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ataxianouninability to coordinate voluntary muscle movementsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ataxic AbasianounMWEabasia due to ataxia of the legsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ataxic AphasianounMWEaphasia in which expression by speech or writing is severely impairedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ataxynouninability to coordinate voluntary muscle movementsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Atelectasisnouncollapse of an expanded lung (especially in infants)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Ateleiosisnouna form of infantilism characterized by physical underdevelopment but normal intelligenceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ateliernouna studio especially for an artist or designerverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ateliosisnouna form of infantilism characterized by physical underdevelopment but normal intelligenceverifiedMay 18, 2026
Atenololnounan oral beta blocker (trade name Tenormin) used in treating hypertension and anginaverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ateria Gastrica DextranounMWEa branch of the hepatic artery that supplies the pyloric portion of the stomach on the lesser curvatureverifiedMay 18, 2026
Athanornouna furnace that feeds itself so as to maintain a uniform temperatureverifiedMay 18, 2026
Atharnounessential oil or perfume obtained from flowersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Atheismnouna lack of belief in the existence of God or godsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Athenaeumnouna literary or scientific association for the promotion of learningverifiedMay 18, 2026