Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

pod, in aviation

(Encyclopedia)pod, in aviation: see airplane.

pod, in botany

(Encyclopedia)pod or legume, dehiscent fruit of a member of the family Leguminosae (pulse family). At maturity the pod splits along its two seams and releases the enclosed seeds. ...

power, in mathematics

(Encyclopedia)power, in mathematics: see exponent. ...

power, in physics

(Encyclopedia)power, in physics, time rate of doing work or of producing or expending energy. The unit of power based on the English units of measurement is the horsepower, devised for describing mechanical power b...

precipitation, in chemistry

(Encyclopedia)precipitation, in chemistry, a process in which a solid is separated from a suspension, sol, or solution. In a suspension such as sand in water the solid spontaneously precipitates (settles out) on st...

precipitation, in meteorology

(Encyclopedia)precipitation, in meteorology, condensed moisture that falls to the surface of the earth in the form of rain, sleet, snow, hail, frost, or dew. ...

phase, in physics

(Encyclopedia)phase, in physics: see wave.

phoebe, in zoology

(Encyclopedia)phoebe, in zoology: see flycatcher. ...

phoenix, in mythology

(Encyclopedia)phoenix, fabulous bird that periodically regenerated itself, used in literature as a symbol of death and resurrection. According to legend, the phoenix lived in Arabia; when it reached the end of its ...

poplar, in botany

(Encyclopedia)poplar: see willow.