Glossary · Nouns · W
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TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Watershednounan event marking a unique or important historical change of course or one on which important developments dependverified
Waterspoutnouna channel through which water is discharged (especially one used for drainage from the gutters of a roof)verified
Waterwheel PlantnounMWEfloating aquatic carnivorous perennial of central and southern Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia having whorls of 6 to 9 leaves ending in hinged lobes for capturing e.g. water fleasverified
Watt SecondnounMWEa unit of electrical energy equal to the work done when a current of one ampere passes through a resistance of one ohm for one secondverified
Wattle and DaubnounMWEbuilding material consisting of interwoven rods and twigs covered with clayverified
Wattmeternounan instrument for measuring in watts the flow of power in an electrical circuitverified
Wave AnglenounMWEthe angle of arrival (or departure) of a radio wave with respect to the axis of an antenna arrayverified
Wave EquationnounMWEa differential equation that describes the passage of harmonic waves through a mediumverified
Wave FormnounMWEthe shape of a wave illustrated graphically by plotting the values of the period quantity against timeverified
Wave FrontnounMWE(physics) an imaginary surface joining all points in space that are reached at the same instant by a wave propagating through a mediumverified
Wave ShapenounMWEthe shape of a wave illustrated graphically by plotting the values of the period quantity against timeverified
Wave-Particle DualitynounMWE(physics) the property of matter and electromagnetic radiation that is characterized by the fact that some properties can be explained best by wave theory and others by particle theoryverified
Wavebandnouna band of adjacent radio frequencies (e.g., assigned for transmitting radio or television signals)verified
Wavelengthnounthe distance (measured in the direction of propagation) between two points in the same phase in consecutive cycles of a waveverified
Wax BegonianounMWEhybrid fibrous-rooted begonia having broad-ovate green to bronze-red leaves and small clusters of white or pink or red flowersverified
Wax CrayonnounMWEwriting implement consisting of a colored stick of composition wax used for writing and drawingverified
Wax MyrtlenounMWEany shrub or small tree of the genus Myrica with aromatic foliage and small wax-coated berriesverified
Wax PalmnounMWEpalm of the Andes yielding a resinous wax which is mixed with tallow to make candlesverified
Wax PlantnounMWEsucculent climber of southern Asia with umbels of pink and white star-shaped flowersverified
Waxberrynoundeciduous shrub of western North America having spikes of pink flowers followed by round white berriesverified
Waxflowernountwining woody vine of Madagascar having thick dark waxy evergreen leaves and clusters of large fragrant waxy white flowers along the stemsverified
Waxmallownounany of various plants of the genus Malvaviscus having brilliant bell-shaped drooping flowers like incompletely opened hibiscus flowersverified
Waxwingnounbrown velvety-plumaged songbirds of the northern hemisphere having crested heads and red waxy wing tipsverified
Waxycapnounany fungus of the family Hygrophoraceae having gills that are more or less waxy in appearanceverified
Way StationnounMWEa small railway station between the principal stations or a station where the train stops only on a signalverified
Waybillnouna receipt given by the carrier to the shipper acknowledging receipt of the goods being shipped and specifying the terms of deliveryverified
Ways and MeansnounMWEresources available to meet expenses (especially legislation for raising revenue for a government)verified
Weak ForcenounMWE(physics) an interaction between elementary particles involving neutrinos or antineutrinos that is responsible for certain kinds of radioactive decayverified
Weak InteractionnounMWE(physics) an interaction between elementary particles involving neutrinos or antineutrinos that is responsible for certain kinds of radioactive decayverified
Weakfishnounfood and game fish of North American coastal waters with a mouth from which hooks easily tear outverified
Weakly Interacting Massive ParticlenounMWEa hypothetical subatomic particle of large mass that interacts weakly with ordinary matter through gravitationverified
weaknessnounAn exception noted in tests of properly designed internal controls that may indicate ineffectiveness. Management must consider the extent of a weakness in such cases. Weaknesses can be classified as a simple deficiency, significant deficiency, or a material weakness.Vulnerability
Weaningnounthe act of substituting other food for the mother's milk in the diet of a child or young mammalverified
Weapon of Mass DestructionnounMWEa weapon that kills or injures civilian as well as military personnel (nuclear and chemical and biological weapons)verified
Weapon-Grade PlutoniumnounMWEplutonium 239 that is recovered when nuclear weapons are disassembledverified
Weapons CarriernounMWEmilitary vehicle that is a light truck designed to carry mortars or machine guns and their crewsverified
Weapons PlutoniumnounMWEplutonium 239 that is recovered when nuclear weapons are disassembledverified
Wearernouna person who wears or carries or displays something as a body covering or accessoryverified
Wearinessnountemporary loss of strength and energy resulting from hard physical or mental workverified
Wearing AwaynounMWE(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)verified