Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Loyalty Islands

(Encyclopedia)Loyalty Islands, coral group (1989 pop. 17,900), S Pacific, a part of the French overseas territory of New Caledonia. The group comprises three islands (Lifou, Maré, and Ouvéa) and many islets and h...

chorus, in music

(Encyclopedia)chorus, in music, large group of singers performing in concert; a group singing liturgical music is a choir. The term chorus may also be used for a group singing or dancing together in a musical or in...

Led Zeppelin

(Encyclopedia)Led Zeppelin, English pop music group formed in 1968 by guitarist Jimmy Page (1944–), singer Robert Plant (1948–), bassist John Paul Jones (1946–), and drummer John “Bonzo” Bonham (1948–80...

Tuamotu Archipelago

(Encyclopedia)Tuamotu Archipelago to͞oämōˈto͞o [key] or Low Archipelago, coral island group (2002 pop. 14,876), South Pacific, part of French Polynesia. They comprise c.80 atolls in a 1,300-mi (2,092-km) chain...

alcohol

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Alcohols alcohol, any of a class of organic compounds with the general formula R–OH, where R represents an alkyl group made up of carbon and hydrogen in various proportions and –OH represe...

chantey

(Encyclopedia)chantey or shanty both: shănˈtē [key], work song with marked rhythm, particularly one sung by a group of sailors while hoisting sail or anchor or pushing the capstan. Often it has solo stanzas sung...

Silvretta

(Encyclopedia)Silvretta sĭlvrĕtˈə, Ger. zĭlvrĕtˈä [key], mountain group of the Alps, in E Switzerland and SW Austria. Its highest peak, Piz Linard (11,185 ft/3,409 m) is in Switzerland; Piz Buin (10,869 ft/...

Staples, Mavis

(Encyclopedia) Staples, Mavis, 1939- , African American popular singer, b. Chicago, Il. Staples began performing at age 11 with her father, Roebuck “Pops” St...

Kermadec Islands

(Encyclopedia)Kermadec Islands kərmădˈĕk [key], almost uninhabited, active volcanic group (c.13 sq mi/34 sq km), South Pacific, 450 mi (720 km) NE of New Zealand, of which they are a dependency. Raoul, or Sunda...

Kizil Adalar

(Encyclopedia)Kizil Adalar kəzŭlˈ ädälärˈ [key] or Princes Islands, group of nine small islands (1990 pop. 19,413), c.4 sq mi (10.4 sq km), NW Turkey, in the Sea of Marmara, near İstanbul. The islands are a...

Browse by Subject