Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

acid rain

(Encyclopedia)acid rain or acid deposition, form of precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, or hail) containing high levels of sulfuric or nitric acids (pH below 5.5–5.6). Produced when sulfur dioxide and various nitro...

Hassan

(Encyclopedia)Hassan häsänˈ [key], d. 1894, sultan of Morocco (1873–94). He brought the weak and disorganized country firmly under his control and held in check attempts by European powers at domination. He pl...

La Malbaie

(Encyclopedia)La Malbaie lä mälbāˈ [key] or Murray Bay, village (1991 pop. 3,968), S central Que., Canada, at the confluence of the Malbaie (or Murray) River with the St. Lawrence. It is a well-known resort in ...

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, island nation (2015 est. pop. 109,000), 150 sq mi (388 sq km), West Indies, in the Windward Islands. It comprises the island of Saint Vincent (140 sq mi/363 sq...

Sierra Leone

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Sierra Leone sēĕrˈə lēōˈnē, lēōnˈ; sērˈə lēōn [key], officially Republic of Sierra Leone, republic (2015 est. pop. 5,879,000), 27,699 sq mi (71,740 sq km), W Africa. It is borde...

Roca, Cabo da

(Encyclopedia)Roca, Cabo da käˈbo͞o ᵺə rôˈkə [key], cape, W Portugal, W of Lisbon. It is the western extremity of Europe. ...

elk

(Encyclopedia)elk, name applied to several large members of the deer family. It most properly designates the largest member of the family, Alces alces, found in the northern regions of Eurasia and North America. In...

papillon

(Encyclopedia)papillon păpˈəlŏnˌ [key], breed of toy dog whose origins are obscure but whose widespread existence in Europe is attested to as early as the 17th cent. It stands from 8 to 11 in. (20.3–27.9 cm)...

snuff

(Encyclopedia)snuff, preparation of pulverized tobacco used by sniffing it into the nostrils, chewing it, or placing it between the gums and the cheek. The blended tobacco from which it is made is often aged for tw...

Batu Khan

(Encyclopedia)Batu Khan bäˈto͞o kän [key], d. 1255, Mongol leader; a grandson of Jenghiz Khan. In 1235 Batu became commander of the Mongol army assigned to the conquest of Europe; his chief general was Subutai....