Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

pancreas

(Encyclopedia)pancreas pănˈkrēəs [key], glandular organ that secretes digestive enzymes and hormones. In humans, the pancreas is a yellowish organ about 7 in. (17.8 cm) long and 1.5 in. (3.8 cm) wide. It lies b...

witch hazel

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Witch hazel, Hamamelis virginiana witch hazel, common name for some members of the Hamamelidaceae, a family of trees and shrubs found mostly in Asia. The family includes the large genus (Coryl...

Western Federation of Miners

(Encyclopedia)Western Federation of Miners (WFM), a radical labor union that organized the miners and smelter workers of the Rocky Mountain states. Created in 1893 by the merger of several local miners' unions, the...

Calderón Hinojosa, Felipe de Jesús

(Encyclopedia)Calderón Hinojosa, Felipe de Jesús fālēˈpā dā hāso͞osˈ käldārōnˈ ēˌnōhōˈsä [key], 1962–, Mexican politician, president of Mexico (2006–2012). His father, Luis Calderón Vega, h...

burglary

(Encyclopedia)burglary, at common law, the breaking and entering of a dwelling house of another at night with the intent to commit a felony, whether the intent is carried out or not. This definition has been genera...

biochemistry

(Encyclopedia)biochemistry, science concerned chiefly with the chemistry of biological processes; it attempts to utilize the tools and concepts of chemistry, particularly organic and physical chemistry, for elucida...

bleaching

(Encyclopedia)bleaching, process of whitening by chemicals or by exposure to sun and air, commonly applied to textiles, paper pulp, wheat flour, petroleum products, oils and fats, straw, hair, feathers, and wood. C...

beta-blocker

(Encyclopedia)beta-blocker or beta-adrenergic blocking agent bāˈtə ădˌrənûrˈjĭk [key], drug that reduces the symptoms connected with hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, angina pectoris, migraine headaches, ...

temporary worker

(Encyclopedia)temporary worker, an employee, hired through a specialized employment agency, who generally works less than a year on one assignment, regardless of the number of hours worked per week. Temporary worke...

Somare, Sir Michael Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Somare, Sir Michael Thomas sōmäˈrā [key], 1936–2021, Papua New Guinea political leader. He was a ...