Glossary · Nouns · P
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TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Phlogistonnouna hypothetical substance once believed to be present in all combustible materials and to be released during burningverified
Phlogopitenouna brown form of mica consisting of hydrous silicate of potassium and magnesium and aluminumverified
Phlox FamilynounMWEa widely distributed family of chiefly herbaceous plants of the order Polemonialesverified
Phobianounan anxiety disorder characterized by extreme and irrational fear of simple things or social situationsverified
Phobic DisordernounMWEan anxiety disorder characterized by extreme and irrational fear of simple things or social situationsverified
Phobic NeurosisnounMWEan anxiety disorder characterized by extreme and irrational fear of simple things or social situationsverified
Phocomelianounan abnormality of development in which the upper part of an arm or leg is missing so the hands or feet are attached to the body like stumpsverified
Phoenixnouna legendary Arabian bird said to periodically burn itself to death and emerge from the ashes as a new phoenixverified
Phoenix TreenounMWEdeciduous tree widely grown in southern United States as an ornamental for its handsome maplelike foliage and long racemes of yellow-green flowers followed by curious leaflike podsverified
Phonationnounthe sound made by the vibration of vocal folds modified by the resonance of the vocal tractverified
Phonebooknouna directory containing an alphabetical list of telephone subscribers and their telephone numbersverified
Phonemenoun(linguistics) one of a small set of speech sounds that are distinguished by the speakers of a particular languageverified
Phonemicsnounthe study of the sound system of a given language and the analysis and classification of its phonemesverified
Phonetic AlphabetnounMWEan alphabet of characters intended to represent specific sounds of speechverified
Phonetic SymbolnounMWEa written character used in phonetic transcription of represent a particular speech soundverified
Phonetic TranscriptionnounMWEa transcription intended to represent each distinct speech sound with a separate symbolverified
Phoneticsnounthe branch of acoustics concerned with speech processes including its production and perception and acoustic analysisverified
Phonicsnounteaching reading by training beginners to associate letters with their sound valuesverified
Phonographnounmachine in which rotating records cause a stylus to vibrate and the vibrations are amplified acoustically or electronicallyverified
Phonograph NeedlenounMWEa stylus that formerly made sound by following a groove in a phonograph recordverified
Phonologynounthe study of the sound system of a given language and the analysis and classification of its phonemesverified
Phosphatasenounany of a group of enzymes that act as a catalyst in the hydrolysis of organic phosphatesverified
Phospholipidnounany of various compounds composed of fatty acids and phosphoric acid and a nitrogenous baseverified
Phosphorusnouna multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cellsverified
Photalgianounpain in the eye resulting from exposure to bright light (often associated with albinism)verified
Photo OpnounMWEan occasion that lends itself to (or is deliberately arranged for) taking photographs that provide favorable publicity for those who are photographedverified
Photo OpportunitynounMWEan occasion that lends itself to, or is deliberately arranged for, taking photographs that provide favorable publicity for those who are photographedverified
Photochemical ExchangenounMWEan exchange produced by the chemical action of radiant energy (especially light)verified
Photocoagulationnounsurgical procedure that uses an intense laser beam to destroy diseased retinal tissue or to make a scar that will hold the retina in cases of detached retinaverified
Photoconductionnounchange in the electrical conductivity of a substance as a result of absorbing electromagnetic radiationverified
Photoconductive CellnounMWEa transducer used to detect and measure light and other radiationsverified
Photoconductivitynounchange in the electrical conductivity of a substance as a result of absorbing electromagnetic radiationverified
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