Columbia Encyclopedia
Search results
500 results found
coral
(Encyclopedia)coral, small, sedentary marine animal, related to the sea anemone but characterized by a skeleton of horny or calcareous material. The skeleton itself is also called coral. Although most corals form c...Chang
(Encyclopedia)Chang yăngˈsēˈ, yängˈdzŭˈ [key], Mandarin Chang Jiang, longest river of China and of Asia, c.3,880 mi (6,245 km) long, rising in the Tibetan highlands, SW Qinghai prov., W China, and flowing g...beaver
(Encyclopedia)beaver, either of two large aquatic rodents, Castor fiber and Castor canadensis, known for their engineering feats. They were once widespread in N and central Eurasia except E Siberia, and in North Am...Derwent
(Encyclopedia)Derwent dûrˈwənt [key], river, c.60 mi (100 km) long, rising in the Pennines, Derbyshire, central England, and flowing SE past Derby to the River Trent. Reservoirs on its headwaters supply water to...Dundas
(Encyclopedia)Dundas dŭnˈdəs [key], town, S Ont., Canada. It is a suburb of Hamilton and is at the head ...cyanogen
(Encyclopedia)cyanogen sīănˈəjən [key], NCCN, colorless, flammable, extremely poisonous gas with a characteristic odor somewhat like that of hydrogen cyanide. It melts at −35℃, boils at −21℃, and is so...Charybdis
(Encyclopedia)Charybdis kərĭbˈdĭs [key], in Greek mythology, a female monster. Because she stole Hercules' cattle, Zeus hurled her into the sea. There she lay under rocks across from Scylla and sucked in and sp...Hylas
(Encyclopedia)Hylas hīˈləs [key], in Greek mythology, beautiful youth. He was a favorite companion of Hercules. While on the expedition of the Argonauts, Hylas was dragged into a spring by water nymphs enchanted...ford
(Encyclopedia)ford, shallow place in a body of water, especially a river, that may be crossed by wading. Around the crossings habitually forded, cities sprang up; hence fords came to be the sites of numerous river ...mead
(Encyclopedia)mead mēd [key], wine made of fermented honey and water, sometimes flavored with spices. It is highly intoxicating. Mead was known in classical Greece and Rome and was the favorite drink of the tribes...Browse by Subject
- Earth and the Environment +-
- History +-
- Literature and the Arts +-
- Medicine +-
- People +-
- Philosophy and Religion +-
- Places +-
- Africa
- Asia
- Australia and Oceania
- Britain, Ireland, France, and the Low Countries
- Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltic Nations
- Germany, Scandinavia, and Central Europe
- Latin America and the Caribbean
- Oceans, Continents, and Polar Regions
- Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and the Balkans
- United States, Canada, and Greenland
- Plants and Animals +-
- Science and Technology +-
- Social Sciences and the Law +-
- Sports and Everyday Life +-