Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

flame test

(Encyclopedia)flame test, test used in the identification of certain metals. It is based on the observation that light emitted by any element gives a unique spectrum when passed through a spectroscope. When a salt ...

Hor

(Encyclopedia)Hor, in the Bible, unlocated mountain, on the boundary of Edom, the place of Aaron's death. It was traditionally identified with Jabal Harun, a mountain in SW Jordan, but it does not correspond with t...

Jaya Peak

(Encyclopedia)Jaya or Djaja Peak both: jäˈyə [key], highest mountain peak on Mt. Jayawijaya, in the Sudirman Mts., Papua prov., Indonesia, on W New Guinea, rising to 16,503 ft (5,031 m). It is the highest point ...

spinel

(Encyclopedia)spinel, magnesium aluminum oxide, MgAl2O4, a mineral crystallizing in the isometric system, usually as octahedrons. It occurs as an accessory mineral in basic igneous rocks, in aluminum-rich metamorph...

color blindness

(Encyclopedia)color blindness, visual defect resulting in the inability to distinguish colors. About 8% of men and 0.5% of women experience some difficulty in color perception. Color blindness is usually an inherit...

Menominee, city, United States

(Encyclopedia)Menominee mənŏmˈənē [key], city (1990 pop. 9,398), seat of Menominee co., N Mich., W Upper Peninsula, on Green Bay at the mouth of the Menominee River; inc. 1883. It is a distribution center for ...

Champion

(Encyclopedia)Champion, uninc. community in the town of Green Bay, Brown co., NE Wis., NE of the city of Green Bay. It is noted for the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Hel...

Harlingen

(Encyclopedia)Harlingen härˈlĭnjən [key], city (2020 pop. 71,829), Cameron co., extreme S Tex.; inc. 1910. It ...

choir

(Encyclopedia)choir [O.Fr.] 1 A group of singers; traditionally the chorus organized to sing in a church. Usually, Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran choirs are composed of men and boys, but occasionally in the...

Burns, George

(Encyclopedia)Burns, George, 1896–1996, b. New York City as Nathan Birnbaum, and his wife Gracie Allen, 1906–64, b. San Francisco, American comedy team (1923–58). In vaudeville in the 1920s, on radio (1932–...

Browse by Subject