Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Frayn, Michael

(Encyclopedia)Frayn, Michael, 1933–, English playwright and novelist, b. London. After graduating from Cambridge he worked as a reporter and columnist for the Manchester Guardian and the Observer. As a playwright...

volleyball

(Encyclopedia)volleyball, outdoor or indoor ball and net game played on a level court. An upright net, 3 ft (or 1 m) high, the top of which stands 8 ft (2.43 m) from the ground for men, 7 ft 4 1/8 in (2.24 m) for w...

casino

(Encyclopedia)casino or cassino both: kəsēˈnō [key]. 1 Card game played with a full deck by two to four players. Its origins are obscure though it probably traces back to the Italian game of Scopa. It is a very...

Havlicek, John J.

(Encyclopedia)Havlicek, John J. hăvˈləchĕk [key], 1940–2019, American basketball player, b. Martins Ferry, Ohio. He attended Ohio State Univ. and was a star forward on the team that won (1960) the NCAA title....

teleportation, in science fiction

(Encyclopedia)teleportation, in science fiction, the process of instantaneously transporting a person or an object between two points, usually by disappearing from one place and reappearing at a second place as a p...

Frederick VIII, king of Denmark

(Encyclopedia)Frederick VIII, 1843–1912, king of Denmark (1906–12), son and successor of Christian IX. He fought in the war with Prussia in 1864 and always retained an interest in military affairs. He was succe...

Yarmouth, town, United States

(Encyclopedia)Yarmouth, resort town (1990 pop. 21,174), Barnstable co., SE Mass., on the south shore of Cape Cod; settled and inc. 1639. The main street of this residential town is lined with well-preserved old hou...

discount

(Encyclopedia)discount, in banking and investment, fee for lending money, which the banker deducts from the loan when it is given. Thus, with a $1,000 loan at a 6% discount, the borrower receives $940 and repays $1...

Jacksonville

(Encyclopedia)Jacksonville. 1 City (1990 pop. 29,101), Pulaski co., central Ark., inc. 1941. The city has varied industries, including printing and publishing and the manufacture of electronic equipment, ordnance, ...

Emmaus, city, United States

(Encyclopedia)Emmaus, borough (2020 pop. 11,652), Lehigh co., E Pa., a suburb adjoining Allentown; inc. 1859. It is chiefly residential, with some light manufacturing...

Browse by Subject