Glossary · Nouns · S
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TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Suprematismnouna geometric abstractionist movement originated by Kazimir Malevich in Russia that influenced constructivismverified
Supreme HeadquartersnounMWEthe highest leaders in an organization (e.g. the commander-in-chief and senior officers of the military)verified
Surbasenounthe molding or border above the base of a structure (a pedestal or podium or wall)verified
Suretynouna prisoner who is held by one party to insure that another party will meet specified termsverified
Surety BondnounMWEa bond given to protect the recipient against loss in case the terms of a contract are not filledverified
Surf CastingnounMWEcasting bait far out into the ocean from the shore, with the waves breaking around youverified
Surf FishingnounMWEcasting (artificial) bait far out into the ocean (up to 200 yards) with the waves breaking around youverified
Surface AssimilationnounMWEthe accumulation of molecules of a gas to form a thin film on the surface of a solidverified
Surface ChemistrynounMWEthe branch of chemistry that studies processes occurring at interfaces between phases (especially those between liquid and gas)verified
Surface LiftnounMWEa ski tow that pulls skiers up a slope without lifting them off the groundverified
Surface NoisenounMWEnoise produced by the friction of the stylus of a record player moving over the rotating recordverified
Surface TensionnounMWEa phenomenon at the surface of a liquid caused by intermolecular forcesverified
Surface-Active AgentnounMWEa chemical agent capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolvedverified
Surface-To-Air MissilenounMWEa guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne targetverified
Surfactantnouna chemical agent capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolvedverified
Surffishnounsmall to medium-sized shallow-water fishes of the Pacific coast of North Americaverified
Surfperchnounsmall to medium-sized shallow-water fishes of the Pacific coast of North Americaverified
Surge ProtectornounMWEelectrical device inserted in a power line to protect equipment from sudden fluctuations in currentverified
Surge SuppressornounMWEelectrical device inserted in a power line to protect equipment from sudden fluctuations in currentverified
Surgerynounthe branch of medical science that treats disease or injury by operative proceduresverified
Surgical IncisionnounMWEthe cutting of or into body tissues or organs (especially by a surgeon as part of an operation)verified
Surgical SpiritnounMWEmethylated spirit used in the practice of medicine (especially for cleansing the skin before injections or before surgery)verified
Surgical StrikenounMWEan attack (usually without prior warning) intended to deal only with a specific targetverified
Surinam CherrynounMWEacid red or yellow cherry-like fruit of a tropical American shrub very rich in vitamin Cverified
Surmounternounsomeone who overcomes and establishes ascendancy and control by force or persuasionverified
Surnamenounthe name used to identify the members of a family, as distinguished from each member's given nameverified
Surrealismnouna 20th century movement of artists and writers (developing out of dadaism) who used fantastic images and incongruous juxtapositions in order to represent unconscious thoughts and dreamsverified
Surrogate MothernounMWEa woman who bears a child for a couple where the wife is unable to do soverified
Surtitlenountranslation of the words of a foreign opera (or choral work) projected on a screen above the stageverified
Surveillance of DiseasenounMWEthe ongoing systematic collection and analysis of data about an infectious disease that can lead to action being taken to control or prevent the diseaseverified
Surveillance SystemnounMWEa closed-circuit television system used to maintain close observation of a person or groupverified
Surveyingnounthe practice of measuring angles and distances on the ground so that they can be accurately plotted on a mapverified
Surveyor's LevelnounMWEsurveying instrument consisting basically of a small telescope with an attached spirit level rotating around a vertical axisverified
Survivalnouna natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environmentverified
Survival of the FittestnounMWEa natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environmentverified
Survivalistnounsomeone who tries to insure their personal survival or the survival of their group or nationverified