Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

bone meal

(Encyclopedia)bone meal, finely ground bone used as a fertilizer for its content of phosphate and nitrogen (about 23%–30% available phosphate and 2%–4% nitrogen); it is an expensive form of phosphoric acid when...

jelly and jam

(Encyclopedia)jelly and jam, gelatinous, sweet food prepared by preserving fresh fruits. Since most fresh fruits contain about 80% water and from 10% to 15% sugar, they are subject to fermentation. They may be pres...

glucagon

(Encyclopedia)glucagon glo͞oˈkəgŏn [key], hormone secreted by the α cells of the islets of Langerhans, specific groups of cells in the pancreas. It tends to counteract the action of insulin, i.e., it raises th...

antiseptic

(Encyclopedia)antiseptic, agent that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms on the external surfaces of the body. Antiseptics should generally be distinguished from drugs such as antibiotics that destroy mi...

phenol

(Encyclopedia)phenol fēˈnōl [key], C6H5OH, a colorless, crystalline solid that melts at about 41℃, boils at 182℃, and is soluble in ethanol and ether and somewhat soluble in water. An aromatic alcohol, it ex...

sweetener, artificial

(Encyclopedia)sweetener, artificial, substance used as a low-calorie sugar substitute. Saccharin, cyclamates, and aspartame have been the most commonly used artificial sweeteners. Saccharin, a coal-tar derivative t...

grease

(Encyclopedia)grease, mixture of lubricant and thickener. It is used to reduce friction between surfaces from which oils would leak away or cause damage by dripping, or where lubrication must be assured for extende...

Dhahran

(Encyclopedia)Dhahran däränˈ, däˌhəränˈ [key], city, NE Saudi Arabia, near the Persian Gulf...

Pinatubo, Mount

(Encyclopedia)Pinatubo, Mount pĭnˌəto͞oˈbō [key], active volcano, 5,840 ft (1,780 m), central Luzon island, the Philippines, c.55 mi (90 km) NW of Manila. Dormant for 600 years, it began erupting on Apr. 2, 1...

shuffleboard

(Encyclopedia)shuffleboard, sport in which players use cue sticks to push disks onto a scoring diagram at either end of a concrete or terrazzo court. The court is 52 ft (15.85 m) long and 6 ft (1.83 m) wide. The ba...