Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

chrysanthemum

(Encyclopedia)chrysanthemum krĭsănˈthəməm [key], name for a large number of annual or perennial herbs of the genus Chrysanthemum of the family Asteraceae (aster family), some cultivated in Asia for at least 2,...

Çiller, Tansu

(Encyclopedia)Çiller, Tansu tänˈso͞o chēlĕrˈ [key], 1946–, Turkish politician, first woman prime minister of Turkey (1993–96). She studied at the Univ. of the Bosporus, İstanbul (B.A.), Univ. of Connect...

circle

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Circle circle, closed plane curve consisting of all points at a given distance from some fixed point, called the center. A circle is a conic section cut by a plane perpendicular to the axis of...

circumcision

(Encyclopedia)circumcision sûrˌkəmsĭzhˈən [key], operation to remove the foreskin covering the glans of the penis. It dates back to prehistoric times and was widespread throughout the Middle East as a religio...

Civil War, in U.S. history

(Encyclopedia)Civil War, in U.S. history, conflict (1861–65) between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states that seceded from the Union and formed the Confederacy. It is generally known in the So...

Alaska

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Alaska əlăˈskə [key], largest in area of the United States but one of the smallest in population, occupying the northwest extremity of the North American continent, separated from the coter...

Claremont

(Encyclopedia)Claremont. 1 City (2020 pop. 37,266), Los Angeles co., S Calif., in a citrus farm area at the foot of the San Gabriel Mts.; inc. 1907. Mainly ...

Clark, Dick

(Encyclopedia)Clark, Dick,, 1929-2012, American radio and TV broadcaster and producer, b. Bronxville, N.Y., as Richard Wagstaff Clark; Syracuse Univ. (B.A., 1951). Be...

Cleaveland, Moses

(Encyclopedia)Cleaveland, Moses klēvˈlənd [key], 1754–1806, American pioneer, b. Canterbury, Conn. After serving (1777–81) in the American Revolution, he practiced law in his native town and entered (1787) t...

Close, Chuck

(Encyclopedia)Close, Chuck (Charles Thomas Close), 1940–2021, American painter, b. Monroe, Wash., Univ. of Washington (B.A., 1962), Yale Univ. (B.F.A., 1963; M.F.A...