Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

fig

(Encyclopedia)fig, name for members of the genus Ficus of the family Moraceae (mulberry family). This large genus contains some 800 species of widely varied tropical vines (some of which are epiphytic); shrubs; and...

volleyball

(Encyclopedia)volleyball, outdoor or indoor ball and net game played on a level court. An upright net, 3 ft (or 1 m) high, the top of which stands 8 ft (2.43 m) from the ground for men, 7 ft 4 1/8 in (2.24 m) for w...

Zemurray, Samuel

(Encyclopedia)Zemurray, Samuel, 1877–1961, American business executive, b. Russia as Schmuel Zmuri; he Americanized his name early in the 20th cent. His nearly penniless family emigrated in 1891 and soon settled ...

Batumi

(Encyclopedia)Batumi bəto͝omˈ [key], city (2021 est. pop. 121,806), capital of Adjarian Autonomous R...

Pinnacles National Park

(Encyclopedia)Pinnacles National Park, c.26,000 acres (10,500 hectares), in the Gabilan Mts. of the Coast Ranges, W central Calif.; est. as a national monument 1980, designated a national park 2013. Pinnacles featu...

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. ...

guava

(Encyclopedia)guava gwäˈvə [key], small evergreen tree or shrub of the genus Psidium of the family Myrtaceae (myrtle family), native to tropical America and grown elsewhere for its ornamental flowers and edible ...

marmalade

(Encyclopedia)marmalade [Port.,=quince preparation], thick preserve of fruit pulp, originally made from quinces (marmelos) and known in England from the 15th cent. Marmalade has a jellylike consistency and a slight...

apple

(Encyclopedia)apple, any tree (and its fruit) of the genus Malus of the family Rosaceae (rose family). Apples were formerly considered species of the pear genus Pyrus, with which they share the characteristic pome ...

Keith, Minor Cooper

(Encyclopedia)Keith, Minor Cooper, 1848–1929, American magnate, a founder of the United Fruit Company, b. Brooklyn, N.Y. In the face of incredible hardships he built (1871–90) a railroad from the port of Limón...

Browse by Subject