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Glossary · Nouns · O

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TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Orthodoxynouna belief or orientation agreeing with conventional standardsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthoepistnouna practitioner of orthoepy (especially one of the 17th or 18th century scholars who proposed to reform English spelling so it would reflect pronunciation more closely)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthoepynouna term formerly used for the part of phonology that dealt with the `correct' pronunciation of words and its relation to `correct' orthographyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthogonal OppositionnounMWEthe relation of opposition between things at right anglesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthogonalitynounthe relation of opposition between things at right anglesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthographynouna method of representing the sounds of a language by written or printed symbolsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthomorphic ProjectionnounMWEa map projection in which a small area is rendered in its true shapeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthomyxovirusnouna group of viruses including those causing influenzaverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthopaedicsnounthe branch of medical science concerned with disorders or deformities of the spine and jointsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthopaedistnouna specialist in correcting deformities of the skeletal system (especially in children)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthopedicsnounthe branch of medical science concerned with disorders or deformities of the spine and jointsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthopedistnouna specialist in correcting deformities of the skeletal system (especially in children)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthophosphatenouna salt of phosphoric acidverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthophosphoric AcidnounMWEan acid used in fertilizers and soaps: H3PO4verifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthophosphorous AcidnounMWEa clear or yellow monobasic acid (H3PO2)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthopneanounform of dyspnea in which the person can breathe comfortably only when standing or sitting erectverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthopterannounany of various insects having leathery forewings and membranous hind wings and chewing mouthpartsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthopteronnounany of various insects having leathery forewings and membranous hind wings and chewing mouthpartsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthopterous InsectnounMWEany of various insects having leathery forewings and membranous hind wings and chewing mouthpartsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthopticsnountreatment of defects of binocular vision (such as strabismus and amblyopia) by nonsurgical measures (especially by exercises to strengthen the eye muscles)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthoptistnouna specialist in orthopticsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthoscopenounan ophthalmoscope with a layer of water to neutralize the refraction of the corneaverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthostatic HypotensionnounMWElow blood pressure occurring in some people when they stand upverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orthotropous OvulenounMWEa completely straight ovule with the micropyle at the apexverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ortolannounbrownish Old World bunting often eaten as a delicacyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ortolan BuntingnounMWEbrownish Old World bunting often eaten as a delicacyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ortygannounany of several East Indian birdsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Oryxnounlarge African antelope with long straight nearly upright hornsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Orzonounpasta shaped like pearls of barleyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osnounrigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebratesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os BrevenounMWEa bone that is of approximately equal dimension in all directionsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os CapitatumnounMWEthe wrist bone with a rounded head shape that articulates with the 3rd metacarpusverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os FrontalenounMWEthe large cranial bone forming the front part of the cranium: includes the upper part of the orbitsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os HamatumnounMWEthe wrist bone in line with the 4th and 5th fingersverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os HyoideumnounMWEa U-shaped bone at the base of the tongue that supports the tongue musclesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os IschiinounMWEone of the three sections of the hipboneverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os LongumnounMWEin limbs of vertebrate animals: a long cylindrical bone that contains marrowverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os LunatumnounMWEone of the eight small wrist bonesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os NasalenounMWEan elongated rectangular bone that forms the bridge of the noseverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os PalatinumnounMWEeither of two irregularly shaped bones that form the back of the hard palate and helps to form the nasal cavity and the floor of the orbitsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os PisiformenounMWEa small wrist bone that articulates only with the triquetralverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os PubisnounMWEone of the three sections of the hipboneverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os ScaphoideumnounMWEthe largest wrist bone on the thumb sideverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os SesamoideumnounMWEany of several small round bones formed in a tendon where it passes over a jointverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os SphenoidalenounMWEbutterfly-shaped bone at the base of the skullverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os Tarsi FibularenounMWEthe largest tarsal boneverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os TemporalenounMWEa thick bone forming the side of the human cranium and encasing the inner earverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os TrapeziumnounMWEthe wrist bone on the thumb side of the hand that articulates with the 1st and 2nd metacarpalsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os TrapezoideumnounMWEthe wrist bone between the trapezium and the capitate bonesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os TriquetrumnounMWEa wrist bone that articulates with the pisiform and hamate and lunate bonesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Os ZygomaticumnounMWEthe arch of bone beneath the eye that forms the prominence of the cheekverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osage OrangenounMWEsmall shrubby deciduous yellowwood tree of south central United States having spines, glossy dark green leaves and an inedible fruit that resembles an orangeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Oscheocelenounswelling of the scrotumverifiedMay 18, 2026
Oscheocoelenounswelling of the scrotumverifiedMay 18, 2026
Oscillationnouna single complete execution of a periodically repeated phenomenonverifiedMay 18, 2026
Oscillatornoungenerator that produces sonic oscillations or alternating currentverifiedMay 18, 2026
Oscillogramnounthe recording produced by an oscillographverifiedMay 18, 2026
Oscillographnouna device for making a record of the wave forms of fluctuating voltages or currentsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Oscilloscopenounelectronic equipment that provides visual images of varying electrical quantitiesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Oscine BirdnounMWEpasserine bird having specialized vocal apparatusverifiedMay 18, 2026
Oscitancenounan involuntary intake of breath through a wide open mouthverifiedMay 18, 2026
Oscitancynounan involuntary intake of breath through a wide open mouthverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osculating CirclenounMWEthe circle that touches a curve (on the concave side) and whose radius is the radius of curvatureverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osculationnoun(mathematics) a contact of two curves (or two surfaces) at which they have a common tangentverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osculatornounsomeone who kissesverifiedMay 18, 2026
OSI layersnounMWEThe main idea in OSI is that the process of communication between two end points in a telecommunication network can be divided into layers, with each layer adding its own set of special, related functions. Each communicating user or program is at a computer equipped with these seven layers of function. So, in a given message between users, there will be a flow of data through each layer at one end down through the layers in that computer and, at the other end, when the message arrives, another flow of data up through the layers in the receiving computer and ultimately to the end user or program. The actual programming and hardware that furnishes these seven layers of function is usually a combination of the computer operating system, applications (such as your Web browser), TCP/IP or alternative transport and network protocols, and the software and hardware that enable you to put a signal on one of the lines attached to your computer. OSI divides telecommunication into seven layers. The layers are in two groups. The upper four layers are used whenever a message passes from or to a user. The lower three layers (up to the network layer) are used when any message passes through the host computer or router. Messages intended for this computer pass to the upper layers. Messages destined for some other host are not passed up to the upper layers but are forwarded to another host. The seven layers are: Layer 7: The application layer...This is the layer at which communication partners are identified, quality of service is identified, user authentication and privacy are considered, and any constraints on data syntax are identified. (This layer is not the application itself, although some applications may perform application layer functions.) Layer 6: The presentation layer...This is a layer, usually part of an operating system, that converts incoming and outgoing data from one presentation format to another (for example, from a text stream into a popup window with the newly arrived text). Sometimes called the syntax layer. Layer 5: The session layer...This layer sets up, coordinates, and terminates conversations, exchanges, and dialogs between the applications at each end. It deals with session and connection coordination. Layer 4: The transport layer...This layer manages the end-to-end control (for example, determining whether all packets have arrived) and error-checking. It ensures complete data transfer. Layer 3: The network layer...This layer handles the routing of the data (sending it in the right direction to the right destination on outgoing transmissions and receiving incoming transmissions at the packet level). The network layer does routing and forwarding. Layer 2: The data-link layer...This layer provides synchronization for the physical level and does bit-stuffing for strings of 1's in excess of 5. It furnishes transmission protocol knowledge and management. Layer 1: The physical layer...This layer conveys the bit stream through the network at the electrical and mechanical level. It provides the hardware means of sending and receiving data on a carrier.FrameworkMay 9, 2026
Osiernounany of various willows having pliable twigs used in basketry and furnitureverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osmiridiumnouna hard and corrosion resistant mineral that is a natural alloy of osmium and iridium (usually containing small amounts of rhodium and platinum)verifiedMay 18, 2026
Osmiumnouna hard brittle blue-grey or blue-black metallic element that is one of the platinum metalsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osmoreceptornounsensory end organ that responds to changes in osmotic pressureverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osmosisnoun(biology, chemistry) diffusion of molecules through a semipermeable membrane from a place of higher concentration to a place of lower concentration until the concentration on both sides is equalverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osmotic PressurenounMWE(physical chemistry) the pressure exerted by a solution necessary to prevent osmosis into that solution when it is separated from the pure solvent by a semipermeable membraneverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osmundnounany fern of the genus Osmunda: large ferns with creeping rhizomesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ospreynounlarge harmless hawk found worldwide that feeds on fish and builds a bulky nest often occupied for yearsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osseous LabyrinthnounMWEcavity in the petrous part of the temporal bone that contains the membranous labyrinthverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osseous TissuenounMWEthe porous calcified substance from which bones are madeverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ossiclenouna small boneverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ossiculumnouna small boneverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ossificationnounthe process of becoming rigidly fixed in a conventional pattern of thought or behaviorverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osso BuconounMWEsliced veal knuckle or shin bone cooked with olive oil and wine and tomatoes and served with rice or vegetablesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ossuarynounany receptacle for the burial of human bonesverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osteitisnouninflammation of a bone as a consequence of infection or trauma or degenerationverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osteitis DeformansnounMWEa disease of bone occurring in the middle aged and elderlyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ostensive DefinitionnounMWEa definition that points out or exhibits instances of the term definedverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ostensoriumnoun(Roman Catholic Church) a vessel (usually of gold or silver) in which the consecrated Host is exposed for adorationverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ostentationnounlack of elegance as a consequence of being pompous and puffed up with vanityverifiedMay 18, 2026
Ostentatiousnessnounlack of elegance as a consequence of being pompous and puffed up with vanityverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osteoarthritisnounchronic breakdown of cartilage in the jointsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osteoblastnouna cell from which bone developsverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osteoblastomanounbenign tumor of bone and fibrous tissueverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osteochondromanounbenign tumor containing both bone and cartilageverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osteoclasisnountreatment of a skeletal deformity by intentionally fracturing a boneverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osteoclastnouncell that functions in the breakdown and resorption of bone tissueverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osteocytenounmature bone cellverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osteodystrophynoundefective bone developmentverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osteogenesis ImperfectanounMWEautosomal dominant disorder of connective tissue characterized by brittle bones that fracture easilyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osteogenic SarcomanounMWEmalignant bone tumorverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osteologernounan anatomist who is skilled is osteologyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osteologistnounan anatomist who is skilled is osteologyverifiedMay 18, 2026
Osteologynounthe branch of anatomy that studies the bones of the vertebrate skeletonverifiedMay 18, 2026